KPK Asked Not To Seek Military's Involvement In Budi Gunawan Case

       Mataram, W Nusa Tenggara (Antara Bali) - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Agus Hermanto said the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should not seek to involve the military in bringing in witnesses  in the process of investigating the legal case of police Comr.Gen. Budi Gunawan.

         The KPK's plan to involve the military is feared to make worse the situation, Agus said here on Friday.

         "Our Law regulates the limitations and authority of the military  and the state police. Therefore, the KPK-police problem should be settled between the two agencies," he said.

         A number of police officers including generals have failed to honor summons by KPK for investigations of the corruption case of Budi Gunawan.

         Agus said KPK should restrained, adding there are other ways which are wiser that we should give use first.

         In the event of witnesses failing to appear KPK could immediately seek coordination with police, he said.

         He also asked police leadership to order its officers to honor any summon by KPK to give testimony needed in the process of investigations.

         Earlier, KPK said it was considering asking for help from the military to bring in the witnesses.

         The charge against Budi Gunawan has triggered new tension between the two enforcement agencies . In what seemed to be a retaliation , police arrested a KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjajanto a few days after KPK named Budi Gunawan a suspect.

          Police released Bambang after being grilled for 18 hours, but his status as suspect remains.

          Bambang was charged with telling witnesses to give false testimony at a Constitutional Court session probing dispute in the election of Kotawaringin district head in  Kalimantan in 2010.  
    "We will communicate with the president whether we could use other forces if there is no guarantee from police to help KPK," Bambang Widjojanto said after reporting his case to the Ombudsman  on Thursday.

         KPK already summoned 10 witnesses  mostly police officers but only one retired Insp.Gen. Syahtria Sitepu has honored the summon.

         Bambang said request for help from the military would be made carefully,  "very carefully in line with regulation."
    KPK already communicated with acting police chief Comr.Gen. Badrodin Haiti  in its attempt to bring in the witnesses.

         "There has been communications with deputy police chief (who is acting police chief) but the issue is different," Bambang said.

         He said KPK had information that there was order not to honor the KPK summon
    "We are seeking  clarification about the 'secret telegram' that the deputy chief agreed with the summon to be complied with , but there was another secret telegram saying no need to come," he said.

         He said the one giving the order not to honor the summon could be charged with obstruction of legal process.

         "But we are still seeking clarification," he added.

         Among the police officers failing to honor the KPK summons included Brig.Gen. Herry Prastowo, Sr. ComrIbnu Isticha, Brig.Gen. (retired) Heru Purwanto, Insp.Gen. Andayono, and Brig.Gen. Budi Hartono Untung.

         On Thursday, three witnessed were summoned by KPK for questioning in the same case.

         One of the witnesses  a lawmaker from the Hanura faction Susaningtyas NH Kertopati, who is a relative of Budi Gunawan, could not come as she was ill.

         Budi Gunawan was charged by KPK with involvement in suspicious transactions  in 2003-2006. He was one of a number of police leaders reported to have suspiciously big account several years earlier.

         Police, however, had said the big bank accounts were all clear , nothing illegal.

         KPK named Budi Gunawan a suspect after President Joko Widodo picked him as sole candidate to replace police chief Gen. Sutarman.

         The KPK-police conflict put Jokowi in a difficult position, especially as the Parliament also approved almost unanimously the candidacy .

         Cancelling the candidacy  would risk facing strong opposition from the House of Representatives  with some lawmakers already voicing threat of interpellation even impeachment and going ahead to install Budi Gunawan would put Jakowi in worse position facing anti corruption activists among his supporters. (WDY)