R

ecent efforts to weaken the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have not slowed the antigraft body in its campaign against corruption.

A KPK team arrested Parlin Purba, the chief of intelligence section 3 of the Bengkulu Prosecutor’s Office in Bengkulu early on Friday for allegedly receiving bribes.

The team also arrested Amin Anwari, the provincial commitment maker official (PPK), and Murni Suhardi, the president director of PT Mukomuko Putra Selatan Manjuto, both of whom allegedly gave bribes to Parlin.

“The bribes were given regarding the data collection process for the early investigation phase into irrigation projects conducted by the River Management Agency Sumatra VII in the 2015 and 2016 fiscal years,” said Basaria Panjaitan, one of the KPK’s deputy chairmen, during a press conference on Friday.

Alexander Marwata, another deputy chairman at the KPK, and Widyo Pramono, the junior attorney general for internal supervision, were also present at the press briefing.

The arrests were made on Thursday at around 11:30 p.m.

During the arrest, antigraft investigators confiscated Rp 10 million (US$751) in cash, which was allegedly set to be given to Parlin. According to the KPK, previous payments amounted to Rp 150 million.

Apart from the arrest, the KPK also sealed several rooms suspected of being filled with evidence, including the rooms of the PPK and the chief of intelligence section 3 in the Bengkulu Prosecutor’s Office.

The arrest shows that the KPK will not be deterred by the efforts of the House of Representatives to weaken the antigraft body.

One of the KPK’s senior investigators, Novel Baswedan, is still undergoing intensive treatment to his left eye, which was severely injured after an unidentified person hurled acid into Novel’s face on April 11. The police have yet to find the perpetrators.

Recently, the KPK also confronted the possibility of an inquiry into its internal workings from the House. Although the House has formed a special committee to launch the inquiry, the KPK questions the legality of the move.

The KPK has made several arrests in corruption cases at the provincial level.

The latest case involves a Jambi Prosecutor’s Office official, who was arrested on April 20 by the province’s task force against corruption in the prosecutor’s office.

The official was allegedly caught red-handed with Rp 200 million cash in his possession. The arrested official was apprehended on suspicion of accepting a bribe related to the auction of contraband items belonging to
the state.

Separately, Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo said his office supported the KPK’s arrest of the official in Bengkulu.

“The Attorney General’s Office won’t defend or protect the arrested personnel or obstruct the KPK from doing its job in investigating the case,” Prasetyo told reporters.

He said he had made phone calls to KPK commissioner Laode Muhammad Syarif when he heard about the arrest. He claims he was asking for confirmation so he could “take firm action to dismiss the arrested attorney once he is named a suspect in the case.”

The office has asked the junior attorney general for internal supervision to hold an independent investigation into the case and coordinate with the KPK to clarify and assist in the matter.

“We’d like to know the problem as it’s one of our members who has been arrested,” Prasetyo said. (kuk)