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KPK marches on as leader fights graft charges
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Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief Firli Bahuri sits in his car after questioning by the antigraft body's supervisory council in Jakarta on Nov. 20, 2023. Firli was named a suspect in an extortion investigation by the Jakarta Police on Nov. 22, 2023. (Antara/M Risyal Hidayat)
T
he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) claimed on Thursday that an ongoing police investigation into its controversial chief, Firli Bahuri, would not impact other corruption cases at the agency, even as he faces calls from antigraft activists to step down.
The Jakarta Police named Firli a suspect late on Wednesday for allegedly extorting former agriculture minister and NasDem Party member Syahrul Yasin Limpo, whom the KPK had named a suspect in a separate graft investigation that some observers contended was politically motivated.
Sr. Comr. Ade Safri Simanjuntak, the director for special crimes at the capital’s police force, said authorities had found sufficient evidence that Firli “allegedly extorted or accepted gratuities from” Syahrul, after investigators interrogated 91 witnesses, including three unidentified KPK employees.
Firli is charged with violating Article 12 of the 2001 Corruption Eradication Law, on extortion and bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Firli’s lawyer, Ian Iskandar, said his client would appeal his suspect status and has described the case as “forced” and lacking evidence.
KPK deputy chief Alexander Marwata told journalists that the antigraft agency would respect the police investigation of its leader and sought to reassure the public that the KPK would continue its work as usual.
“The KPK leadership remains committed to carrying out our work to investigate and solve graft cases, launch anticorruption campaigns and monitor the upcoming election,” he told a press conference on Thursday.
