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Police probe KPK leaders over alleged falsification
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Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Agus Rahardjo (right) together with his deputy chairpersons, Basaria Panjaitan (second right) and Saut Situmorang (center), as well as Rina Emilda (left), the wife of KPK senior investigator Novel Baswedan, attend a prayer event for Novel in Jakarta on July 20. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
T
he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is facing new pressure after the National Police launched an investigation into alleged document forgery by its chairman Agus Rahardjo and his deputy Saut Situmorang.
The country's top antigraft body has already been beleaguered thanks to persistent political moves by lawmakers activists believe are aimed at undermining the KPK.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto confirmed Wednesday that the police had been investigating the case, which was a follow-up of a report filed by one of the lawyers of House of Representatives speaker and Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto.
He said Agus and Saut had been reported over alleged abuse of power surrounding a travel ban document issued by the KPK against Setya on Oct. 2.
“The alleged crimes are falsifying a document or abuse of power,” Setyo said.
It had been two days after the South Jakarta District Court ruled in favor of Setya's pretrial motion and annulled the KPK's decision to name him a suspect in the high-profile e-ID corruption case.
Read also: KPK remains tight-lipped over Setya status
Setyo denied reports saying Agus and Saut had been named suspects.
According to the 2002 KPK Law, a KPK leader who is named a suspect shall be suspended from his or her position.
Setyo said police investigators, as of Wednesday afternoon, had questioned six witnesses, including one linguistics expert, three criminal law experts and one constitutional law expert. Both Agus and Saut had not been questioned.
Read also: KPK seeks ways to pin Setya in e-ID case
KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said the antigraft body would stand ready to face the police's investigation against Agus and Saut and provide legal aid for the two.
“We believe the National Police will be professional in this regard,” Febri said, adding that the corruption fight should be given priority. (bbs)
