T

he latest terror threats against two Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders have once again raised concern among the commission’s employees over their security while on and off duty.

Early on Wednesday morning, unknown assailants left a suspicious package at the private residence of KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo in Bekasi, West Java. The package contained material resembling components of a bomb such as a detonator, cables, nails and a pipe.

At the same time, the remains of two Molotov cocktails were found at the home of the commission’s deputy chairman Laode Muhammad Syarif in Kalibata, South Jakarta. The police found one of the bottles intact, while the other one had exploded.

While KPK employees are no strangers to such threats, the latest cases raised concern as they occurred at the private residence of each commissioner, said KPK workers’ union head Yudi Purnomo Harahap.

“When their homes are being targeted, it means the assailants are carrying out psychological warfare against KPK employees and leaders,” Yudi said.

In the wake of the incidents, the KPK reacted quickly by strengthening security measures for each leader, KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said.

“We have an internal security mechanism to respond to every threat directed at us that is run with the assistance of the National Police,” Febri added.

Separately, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said both the force and the KPK were satisfied with the upgraded security measures after the threats.

“If the threats escalate, we are ready to add more personnel to safeguard [each commissioner]. For now, we are intensifying patrols around KPK leaders’ residences,” Dedi said.

The KPK is also considering other security measures, such as providing electronic panic buttons for employees. The electronic buttons, however, are still under development.

“Meanwhile, we have assigned people in the commission as emergency contacts that can be contacted whenever our employees are in distress,” Febri added.

Concern among KPK employees is expected as the antigraft body has to investigate corruption cases involving powerful figures. In 2018 alone, KPK investigators prosecuted more than 200 individuals comprising local leaders, lawmakers, councillors and businesspeople.

“From the moment these people are appointed KPK commissioners, we know there would be attacks to stop their work,” said HS Dillon, the executive director of the Partnership for Governance Reform in Indonesia.

According to the KPK’s workers union, there were at least eight acts of terror against KPK investigators and leaders prior to Wednesday’s incidents, including an acid attack that caused severe damage to senior investigator Novel Baswedan’s eyes in 2017. At the time of the attack, Novel was investigating the e-ID graft case that implicated a number of high-profile figures, including former House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto.

Two years ago, investigator Apip Julian Miftah was subject to various terror threats, such as acid being sprayed on his car’s windshield and a bomb-like package placed in front of his house. Apip had been investigating six high-profile graft cases.

The police have been investigating each case but are yet to find anyone responsible.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said he had instructed the National Police head to investigate and hunt the perpetrators of the incidents because they were intimidating the country’s law
enforcers.

“We can’t tolerate this. Hunt and find the perpetrators,” Jokowi said on Thursday. He added that he had ordered the police to ramp up security measures for KPK commissioners.

Wednesday’s incidents are being investigated by a joint team comprising personnel from the Jakarta Police, the National Police’s Forensic Laboratory Center and the police’s counterterrorism squad Densus 88.

On Thursday, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Muhammad Iqbal told journalists a fake bomb that did not contain explosive materials was found at Agus’ house.

“We continue to work to find the perpetrators. Our joint team has shown that we’re serious in investigating these incidents,” Iqbal told journalists.

— Marchio Irfan Gorbiano contributed to the story