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KPK chairman Firli Bahuri found guilty of ethics breach
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he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) supervisory council has declared the commission's chairman, Firli Bahuri, guilty of an ethics violation for indulging in a “hedonistic lifestyle”.
The council's panel of ethics said that Firli had failed to show exemplary action in his daily behavior, as mandated by KPK Supervisory Board Regulation No. 2/2020 on the enforcement of the KPK code of ethics and conduct.
Furthermore, the panel pointed out Firli's negligence in recognizing that his attitudes and actions were inherent to and reflected his position as a KPK personnel.
“[The panel] has found [Firli] guilty of violating the [KPK's] code of ethics and conduct,” supervisory council chair Tumpak Panggabean said during a hearing on Thursday.
The council handed down a "light sentence" of a written reprimand as punishment for Firli – the first-ever KPK chief to be declared guilty of an ethics violation.
The Indonesian Anticorruption Community (MAKI) previously filed a report against Firli for using a private helicopter to take a personal trip from Palembang, South Sumatra, to his hometown of Baturaja in the same province in June, accusing him of living a "hedonistic lifestyle".
After the hearing, Firli said that he accepted the punishment handed down by the council and vowed not to repeat his mistake.
“I take the opportunity today to apologize to all Indonesian people who may be upset [by my actions],” Firli told kompas.com on Thursday.
In a media conference held after the hearing, Tumpak said the supervisory council would not develop the helicopter ride case.
He added that no allegations of gratuity were proven amid reports that Firli received discounts for the ride, in addition to the helicopter taxi company being linked to a graft suspect.
Tumpak expressed hope that there would be no more ethics violations committed by employees of the antigraft agency in the future.
“[The council] certainly hopes that all commission personnel [...] will always speak and behave in a way that upholds the dignity of the commission in accordance with the established code of ethics and behavior,” he said.
Antigraft watchdogs questioned the light punishment imposed on Firli.
Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said Firli deserved a harsher punishment for the violation, namely removal from his current position as the KPK chief.
ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana argued that the 2019 KPK Law stipulates that leaders of the antigraft commission must never commit acts of disgrace, in addition to being competent, honest, having high integrity and a good reputation.
“The supervisory board's decision on Firli has made it more difficult for the KPK to improve its reputation, which is already deteriorating. The light sanctions can set a precedent for other employees or leaders in cases of similar violations,” Kurnia said in a statement on Thursday.
In addition, MAKI coordinator Boyamin Saiman, who reported the helicopter ride to the supervisory board, expressed his disappointment as he previously suggested to the panel that Firli should be demoted to deputy chief if he was found guilty of the ethics violation.
“I’m a little disappointed, but even the written reprimand should be a heavy enough [punishment] for Firli,” Boyamin said Thursday. “With the warning, please end all controversy and work seriously, make the maximum effort for corruption eradication”.
