The Jakarta Police have stopped an investigation into alleged bribery involving a Jakarta State University (UNJ) staff member, claiming no laws had been violated.

“After questioning [44] witnesses and two expert witnesses, we didn’t find any violations,” Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

The police also reconstructed the case at the Education and Culture Ministry, where the alleged graft took place, and found no indication that illicit funds had changed hands. 

“Therefore, the investigators decided to stop the investigation [into the UNJ case],” he said. 

He added that the police would hand over the case to the ministry. 

Read also: KPK, not police, should investigate university graft case, ICW says

Acting education ministry inspector general Chatarina Muliana Girsang said the ministry would examine whether an ethics violation had occurred in the case. 

“We will investigate the case with the secretary-general,” she said. 

Chatarina also said the ministry would return the case to the police if they found evidence that indicated a crime had taken place. 

Earlier in May, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested DAN, the head of staffing of UNJ, and seized US$1,200 and Rp 27.5 million ($1,850) that was reportedly to be given to education ministry officials as holiday bonuses.

The KPK  handed the case over to the police as it claimed that there had been no involvement from state officials in the case. (aly)