The position of law enforcement deputy director, responsible for all legal efforts against graft suspects, has been empty since former deputy director Firli Bahuri left the post in June of last year to return to the National Police as a member of the South Sumatra Police. Firli now serves as the antigraft body chairman after being selected by the House of Representatives in September 2019.

KPK acting spokesperson Ali Fikri said the antigraft body had selected three out of 11 candidates for the deputy position after an “independent and professional third party” carried out administrative and other assessments from March 5 to 17.

The selection team has also narrowed down candidates for investigation director, information and data deputy director and legal bureau head.

“The candidates are comprised of our own employees as well as individuals from external agencies,” Ali said in a statement on Monday.

Read also: 'Maybe it's working': KPK says lack of raids thanks to successful prevention method

The next phase of the selection process – a medical checkup and interview – will be conducted from April 2 to 7.

“They will be conducted in parallel with a background check done by the KPK and a third-party institution. Among the information checked will be their compliance in submitting their wealth report [LHKPN].”

Ali invited the public to participate in the selection process by providing insight on each candidate.

However, Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) slammed the antigraft body for its lack of transparency regarding the selection process, as the public had not been informed of the selection steps or the names of the candidates applying for the positions.

ICW researcher Wana Alamsyah compared this year’s selection process to the one that occurred in 2018, which resulted in Firli’s appointment as the law enforcement deputy.

Read also: 100 days of blunders: Watchdog slams new KPK chairman's performance

At that time, the KPK made information about the process and candidates available to the general public. It also involved the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) in the background checks. The institution was not involved in this year’s selection process.

“The KPK's law enforcement deputy director has a central role in handling corruption cases. If the position is filled by people lacking integrity and capacity, public trust in the KPK will be eroded further,” Wana said.

He noted on the high number of law enforcement officers applying for the position. “There will be a potential for conflict of interest, especially when the antigraft body investigates corruption cases in law enforcement institutions, if KPK’s prosecution is led by law enforcement.”

Since Firli was inaugurated as the KPK chairman last December, the antigraft body has handled only two major graft cases, both of which have carried over from the term of the previous chairman, Agus Rahardjo.