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KPK faces crisis of confidence as scandals pile up
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Motorists are reflected on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building’s nameplate in Jakarta on June 27. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo)
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ew allegations of embezzlement at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have added to a slew of others at the institution, including bribe-taking and sexual assault, stoking concerns that the current incarnation of the antigraft body has lost the public’s trust.
An ongoing KPK investigation into one of its own administrative workers has found indications that in 2021 and 2022 the person skimmed hundreds of millions of rupiah from travel budgets for other KPK employees.
“The alleged [corruption] was first revealed and reported by the employee’s higher-ups, since the administrative process took longer than expected and there were budget cuts for other KPK employees who were traveling on official duty,” KPK secretary general Cahya Harefa said at a press conference on Tuesday.
The KPK inspectorate conducted an initial internal investigation in response to the report and concluded that the embezzlement had cost the state some Rp 550 million (US$36,600). It was uncertain whether the employee had acted alone.
The KPK’s law enforcement division is now conducting a full investigation into the employee, who has been dismissed from the institution.
The revelation came amid another internal investigation into allegations of corruption, this time by KPK detention center employees. Initial reports suggested that some Rp 4 billion in bribes had been taken from detainees from December 2021 to March 2022.
KPK deputy head Nurul Ghufron said earlier this week that the detention officers in question had allegedly accepted bribes to smuggle cash and communication devices into one of the KPK’s four detention centers.
