P

resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is expected to select the six new members of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), out of 12 candidates, soon. Among other responsibilities, the members will have the authority to recommend police chief candidates to the President.

The selection committee submitted the final 12 candidates to Jokowi on Monday. The current Kompolnas members will end their tenures on May 18.

“We are certain that the 12 candidates each have a clean track record as we have allowed the Corruption Eradication Commission [KPK], the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre [PPATK], the National Intelligence Agency [BIN] and the police criminal investigation unit to scrutinize them, including their wealth and financial records,” selection committee head Imam Sudjarwo said on Monday.

The controversial nomination of politically connected Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan last year sparked public outcry and resulted in a protracted standoff between the KPK and the police. Last year’s brouhaha also placed then coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno in the spotlight after Jokowi said his decision with regard to Budi had been based on a recommendation from Kompolnas, of which Tedjo had been a former chairman. At that time, Jokowi claimed he had received a letter clarifying dubious bank account transactions linked to Budi, who is now the deputy police chief.

Among the 12 names are human rights campaigner from Imparsial Poengky Indarti and former Papua Police chief Yotje Mende, who failed in the vetting process of KPK leaders last year.

Other than Yotje, four other retired police executives, including M. Nasser Amir, Bekto Suprapto, Herry Haryanto and Sadar Sabayang, as well as Andrea H. Poeloengan, a lecturer at the Institute of Police Science, are on the list. The five other candidates are Yudi Hidayat, a deputy dean at Moestopo University; Andriyansyah, secretary general at the Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda); Benedictus Bambang Nurhadi, an executive at advocate association Peradi; Dede Farhan Aulawi, an executive at the Golkar Party affiliated organization Kosgoro; and journalist Nurudin Lazuardi.