Jakarta, Monday, September, 28,2009

The team of five, which was specially appointed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to select three interim leaders at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), has received five candidate names in a closed envelope from law experts, a team member said.

“The names were submitted by a member of law organizations, such as the Indonesian Attorney Union [PJI] and the National Police Commission [Kompolnas], during our meeting with them,” team member Todung Mulya Lubis told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

“During the meeting, there were differences on the urgency of the president’s regulation-in-lieu of law on the KPK’s leadership, but in the end, everyone agreed that the antigraft body needed to be saved.”

Todung was referring to a regulation issued by Yudhoyono aiming to appoint individuals to serve as interim leaders at the KPK.

The KPK has lost three - Antasari Azhar, Chandra Hamzah, and Bibit Samad Riyanto - out of its five leaders after the police charged them with criminal conduct, including masterminding a murder, abuse of power and receiving bribery.

Yudhoyono saw that the KPK was in an emergency situation and needed to be saved by issuing a regulation to fill the slots, however,anticorruption activists claimed the president had tainted and jeopardized the independency of the KPK with his action.

The remaining KPK leaders M Jasin and Haryono Umar initially rejected the regulation, but they changed their minds after they met the President’s team.

During that meeting, Jasin and Umar said that they could understand the President’s reasons but they also wanted the interim leaders to be those who had sifficient capability and were ready to work starting from day one.

The team has so far agreed on three basic reqruitments for selection of candidates.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo A.S., another member of the team, said that the most important criteria was the ability to adjust to the culture of the KPK and coordinate with the remaining deputies.

Todung said that more or less of the same criteria were also requested by the organizations the team met during Saturday’s meeting.

“They want us to name people who are profesionals in the fields of law, such as attorneys, advocates and policement.

“They also asked for a guarantee that the selected interim leaders would be able to do their jobs peacefully without having to worry about being criminalized.”

Todung said that the team would make the final decesion before Sept. 1. “I also hope that president will have the wisdom to accept our decesion. He appointed us as the selection team, therfore he should not reject our recommendation.”

Another team member Adnan Buyung Nasution said as quoted by detik.com that he would quit from his job as one of the President’s advisory board members should Yudhoyono reject the team’s recommendation.

“The president has given us his mandate and trust. Ethically speaking, he must accept our recommendation.

“We cannot force him to agree with our decesion, however, I have a stance of my own.” (hdt)

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo AS speaking at his office in Jakarta with the other members of the team tasked with selecting temporary replacements for three suspended KPK officials. From left to rightTaufiequrrahman Ruki, Adnan Buyung Nasution,Andi Mattalata and Todung Mulya Lubis. [JG Photo]

Jakarta Globe, Friday, September 25,2009

Varied Criteria : Antigraft groups issue list of demands

Nivell Rayda

The Corruption Eradication Commission said on Thursday that accepted the government’s decision to issue a regulation in lieu of law, or perpu, to select temporary replacements for three suspended officials from the antigraft body.

Haryono Umar, one of the two ramaining active leaders of the commission, known as the KPK, said he and his colleagues were simply “following the mandate of the law.”

On Tuesday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued the perpu to personally select three replacements, bypassing a selection process in the house of Representative that is set out in the law on the KPK.

With only two active commissioners, the KPK is one member short of the number legally required to make key decisions.

“If the president has issued the perpu, then all we can do is accept it as it is, “Haryono said.

“We will accept the president’s decision, but we hope the government will consult with us on the matter. We are already disappointed because the president  didn’t consult with us when he issued the perpu.”

A day after passing the perpu, Yudhoyono appointed a five member team to recommend replacements.

The team, which must produce names for the president to select by next week, had its first session on Thursday.

Todung Mulya Lubis, one of the team members and a prominent lawyer, said that given the tight deadline, the selection team would resort to head-hunting rather than open recruitment.

“We don’t have the time to make a public announcement, accept applications, screen candidats and interview them, in line with the proper [KPK commissioner] selection process, “he said.

“We will come up with a shortlist of names and approach the candidates pwersonally.”

Todung added that Thursday’s discussion focused on the criteria for choosing the temporary replacements, rather than specific names. “We are looking for people with integrity who are acceptable to the public, as stated in Article 29 of the KPK law, “He said.

“We also have some other criteria. We are looking for people who are able to work with the current commissioners.”

KPK chief Antasari Azhar has been suspended as he awaits trial for the murder of a businessman. Two of Antasari’s deputies, Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah, were controversially accused of abusing their powers by the National Police last week. They were both suspended on Tuesday.

Adnan Buyung Nasution, a lawyer and another member of the selection team, said that if the case was halted before it reached prosecution, Bibit and Chandra would be welcome to return to active duty.

Antigraft groups and legal analyst have protested against the matter, saying that police were trying to find excuses to oust KPK leaders who were trying to investigate a senior police officer in a major bribery case.

Some of them also objected to the perpu itselft, claiming that Yudhoyono was trying to undermine  the KPK’s independence.

“The move is not meant to save the KPK,”Hendardi, the chairman of the Setara Institute, said on Thursday.

“The passage of the perpu is linked to the police’s decesion to question the KPK’s authority. There is no proof that the KPK could not perform well with just two members.”

Separately, antigraft groups outlined their own criteria for the replacements. The groups including organization such as Indonesia Corruption Watch, the National Consurtium for Legal Reform (KRHN) and the Center for Law and Policy Studies (PSHK) argued that people who have proffesional or personal ties to the president should not be chosen as replacement officials.

They also objected to lawyers who have represented clients in KPK cases, as well as law enforcement officals and individuals affiliated with specific political parties.

The Jakarta Post

Irawaty Wardany
Jakarta Thursday, 24 September 2009

“The team consists of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto, presidential advisor Adnan Buyung Nasution, Justice and Human Rights Minister Andi Matalatta, former KPK chairman Taufiequrrahman Ruki and lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis,” Widodo said-as quoted by Antara state newswire Wednesday.

Last week corruption watchdogs expressed their strong opposition to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s plan to issue a government regulation-in-lieu-of-law (Perppu) on the appointment of three acting leaders.

Critics said the move signified the Presidents direct interference in the internal affairs of the independent Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Widodo added that the presidential decree would allow the team to shortlist.candidates who would fill the posts left vacant by KPK chief Antasari Azhar and deputy chiefs Chandra M. Hamzah and pibit Samad Rianto, following their implication in criminal cases.

Antasari was arrested by the police in April for his alleged involvement in the murder of a state owned  company director Nasruddin Zulkarnaen.

Chandra and Bibit were held as suspects last week due to their alleged power abuse when they imposed a travel ban on two graft suspects, Anggoro Widjojo and Djoko S. Tjandra.
The President hopes the interim leaders will be credible and accept-able figures, therefore he has formed a selection team,” Widodo said.

He added the team would submit  the names of candidates to the President on Oct, 1 hoping that the three acting KPK leaders would be sworn in on Oct, 2.

Todung who was still celebrating the Idul Fitri in Medan, North Sumatra, said he had already, made contact with Buyung, and the team would meet today to carry out their task as stipulated by the decree.

He said the decree was a follow-up to the issuance of the government regulation-in-lieu-of-law concerning the revision the 20b2 KPK law signed by the President on Tuesday.
The regulation allows the President to appoint interim leaders when there are vacant posts at the commission.

The President, who departed for the United States on Wednesday, said it was a necessary step because he was afraid the KPK could not work with only two leaders.

Separately, KPK advisor council member Abdullah Hehamahua said people appointed from outside the commission would hamper KPK’s operation because they would need time to adjust to the KPK work culture.

Meanwhile, antigraft activists reiterated their strong resistance to the President’s move, saying it would be a “disaster” for the KPK’s independence.

“We are afraid those people who will be appointed, to fill the KPK vacant positions will only be pup-pets of the executive,” newly elected member of Regional Representative Council Sarah Lery Mboeik told a conference.

September, 24,2009

By Lynn Lee

Indonesia Correspondent

Jakarta: Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono yesterday made a move to bolster the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which has lost three of its five leaders in recent months to scandal. 

Before leaving for the United States to meet world leaders at the group of 20 summit, Dr Yudhoyono ordered the formation of a team to propose three interim leaders by next Thursday. The new leaders will then be sworn in the following day.

The KPK - which has many enemies among Indonesia’s elite due to its largely successful attempts at exposing corruption scandals - lost its chief Mr Antasari Azghar in May when police named him as the suspected mastermind of the murder of a bussinessman. He is now awaiting trial.

Last week, two of KPK’s four deputy chairman - Messrs Chandra  M. Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto - were suspended from their posts, after police accused them of abusing their power by issuing travel bans on two businessmen suspected of graft.

The KPK’s two remaining deputies, Mr Haryono Umar and Mr M. Jasin, have been running the institution.

Dr Yudhoyono referred to his move to appoint new leaders as an “emergency situation” for the KPK. He said that after consulting with the Constitutional and Supreme Courts and top legislators, he would issue a presidential regulation to appoint the new leaders.

But his move was met with a backlash from analysts and anti-graft activists  who said that he should not impose his will on the KPK, which operates independently of the government.

The KPK has gained a reputation as one of the few clean institution in the country, where corruption is endemic, after a series of successful convictions against top officials.

Said Ms Jaleswari Pramowardhani of the Indonesian Institute of sciences to The Jakarta Post : “This could be a bad precedent for the future, that the government would be able to interfere in any institution in this nation.”

Also, there has been dispute over whether Mr Chandra and Mr Bibit are indeed guilty. Their supporters said the national police have a bone to pick with the KPK. Supporters have also decried investigations on both men as no evidence has been found to implicate them. 

By law, KPK leaders have to be aproved by a Parliament committee, but the process is a lengthy one. Yesterday, Cordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs, Mr Widodo Adi Sucipto, who is on the five man approval team said Dr Yudhoyono wanted to have the “void” in the KPK filled soon. 

The others on the team are justice and Human Rights Minister Andi Mattalatta, presidential adviser Adnan Buyung Nasution, former KPK chief Taufiqurrahman Ruki and lawyer and human rights activist Todung Mulya Lubis (left).

Mr Todung, who was the Jakarta based defence counsel for Temasek Holdings’ wrangle with Indonesia’s anti-monopoly agency, told The Straits Times yesterday that the team will meet today for the first time.

They would be looking for candidates who have integrity, good character and are committed to the anti-graft cause, among other qualities, he said. 

According to news reports, some names that activists have suggested include Mr Amin Sunaryadi, a former deputy chairman of the KPK, and Mr Marsilam Simanjuntak, the former attorney-general.

Said Mr Todung: “I don’t see the President as interfering in the process, because the team of five has been formed and our task is to give him three names. So, we will be listening for any worthy recommendations from the ground.”

lynnlee@sph.com.sg

Adianto Simamora

Jakarta, Saturday, September 26,2009 

Members of the government-appointed Team 5 and the remaining leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Friday jointly agreed that the nominees for the body’s interim leadership should be experienced candidates who can jump their new responsibilities without hesitation.

Team member Widodo AS said KPK deputies Haryono Umar and Muhammad Jasin were both supportive of Team 5’s eforts and that both shared similiar visions on the criteria for nominees.

“They provided some very useful input. We welcome their contributions.” According to Widodo one of the most important aspects raised was the need for candidates to be independent, have integrity and to be able to “tune-in” quickly to the demands of the job.

Widodo and other Team 5 members such as Adnan Buyung Nasution and Todung Mulya Lubis both said they could not rely on a regular recruitment process due to severe time constraints.

“In this short time we have to do quite a bit of talent scouting,” Adnan Buyung said.

Todung said the Team 5 was trying to engage with as many stakeholders as possible.

“There have been a lot of proposals. Text messages coming in almost continuously. On my cellphone there must be 100 names [for candidates] already,” he remarked.

Widodo said other criteria that the Team 5 had agreed upon was that the nominee should not have a “psychological obstacle” vis-a-vis the two suspended deputy chairman’s who were now under police custody.

He added that the three nominees eventually put forward should ideally be individuals who would be “acceptable to the general public at large”.

Widodo further lamented public speculation that Team 5 was merely created to impose the authority of the executive government over the KPK.

He strongly denied such impreddions and insisted that the team had the full autonomy to nominate people whom they believed could best fill this importants post.

Previously, the team met with remaining KPK leaders M. Jasin and Haryono Umar to collaborate in proposing nominees to fill the vacant posts at the commission. Widodo, also coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, said that the KPK’s suggestions were valuable in executing its duties to select qualified interim KPK leaders.

“Their views are valuable input for us in executing our duties,” he told reporters after the meeting.

KPK deputy chairman for prevention M Jasin said he and Umar recommended that the interim leaders should come from the KPK internal staff.

“People in the KPK were recruited using a merit system; they have integrity and are professional in their work. Besides, we will someone from inside our circle.”

He also suggested one of interim leaders could be elected from former KPK leaders. “If the proposal was accepted, it would help us to carry out our tasks in overcoming the crisis condition as we are waiting for the legal process against Bibit and Chandra.”

Chandra Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto, suspected of abusing their power. Suspended KPK chief Antasari Azhar is facing murder charges.

Jasin said that as a government institution, the KPK could not disapprove of the government regulation in lieu-of-law (perppu) stipulating the establisment of the team.

Team 5 was scheduled to meet with law experts on Saturday afternoon.

Wednesday, August 5,2009, Jakarta

The Judiciary Commission must be strengthened if the government is serious about eradicating corruption in the judiciary and stamping out the so-called “court mafia”, a seminar concluded Tuesday. Officials and legal experts at the seminar agreed that amending the recent Judicial Commission law would be a good way to start.
“We must not waste our time merely discussing how to tackle corruption without taking any real action to tackle it. We must amend the law,” Thahir Saimima, a member of the commission, told the seminar.
Saiman said the amendment should give the commission power to investigate and punish offending judges. “I expect to see that in the immediate future the Judicial Commission will be able to closely monitor the judges and summon them when they need to investigate,”he added.
The current Judicial Commission Law has been criticized for being too weak and not giving the commission the power it needs to effectively monitor judges. According to the law, the commission only has the authority to select candidates for position on the Supreme Court.
“The ball is in the hands of the government and the house right now. If they really want to eradicate judicial corruption then i don’t  see any more obstacles that would prevent them from deliberating the amendment,” he said.
United Development Party (PPP)  legislator Lukman Halim Syafiuddin acknowledged the House would most likely be unable to amend the law before their term ends in October. “With several other bills, such as the corruption court bill, that need to be passed in time, I must say we probably won’t be able to make any amendments to the existing Judicial Commission Law as we are running out of time,” he said. Lukman added the task of passing the amendment would be most likely be passed on to the incoming members of the house.
He, however,, agreed that giving the commission more power, especially in its authority to monitor judges, would contribute a great deal to the country’s effort to eradicating the court mafia.
Lawyer-cum-graft-activist Todung Mulya Lubis, who also attended the seminar, agreed as to the importance of strengthening the commission’s authority, saying increased monitoring would force judges to work within the law. “They would know that they are monitored by an outside body. This would be a good deterrent for judges who are thinking about accepting bribes,” he said
Judges Artijo Alkostar said that good monitoring would enhance the integrity of the nation’s judges.

Dicky Christanto - The Jakarta Post

The Jakarta Post,  Thu, 11/05/2009The government-sanctioned fact-finding team, dubbed Team 8, held various meetings Wednesday with parties involved in a saga over criminal cases against the suspended deputy leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

The team also met with chief editors of national media outlets in the evening

On Wednesday the team is slated to meet National Police chief detective Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji and Anggodo Widjojo among the figures in the scandal.

National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri, detective deputy chief Insp. Gen. Dikdik Mulyana, legal division deputy chief Brig. Gen. Jovianes and several detectives have also been questioned. 

The group has been tasked to investigate the origin of the case against Chandra M. Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto and its progress so far. 

“Apparently it began from the testimony of Antasari [Azhar],” team chairman Adnan Buyung Nasution said after the meeting.

“The police found that Antasari went to Singapore and met with Anggodo Widjojo, who has been put on a travel ban list.

“Antasari heard that this deputies had received money from Anggoro,”Buyung said.

Deposed KPK chief Antasari is being tried for allegedly plotting the murder of Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, a director at a state firm, while Anggoro is the director of PT Masaro Radiokom and is allegedly involved in a bribery casr involving a communication system project at the the Forestry Ministry.

Bambang also said the KPK deputies had abused their power by lifting the travel ban against graft suspect Joko Chandra by stating that he had been “investigated and prosecuted, while the fact is that never happened”.

The police arrested Chandra and Bibit on Thursday and released them in the early hours of Wednesday after the Constitutional Court heard voice recordings describing a plot to frame the deputies.

The police also detained Anggodo for questioning Tuesday evening.

“Bambang said the police would have to release Anggodo if no sifficient preliminary evidence was found to arrest him,”Buyung said.

Team member Anies Baswedan said he did not know what kind of evidence the police still lacked. However, Anggodo was later released on Wednesday evening.

During a meeting with the chief editors, Team 8 member Todung Mulya lubis said that Anggodo’s taped conversation showed his contempt for the law.

“Police decided this morning that there is not enough evidence so he will be release. This is clearly an obstruction of justice, if cannot be tolerated.

“We don’t think we are limited to verifying the process of investigation of Bibit and Chandra, after what we heard yesterday [Tuesday] at the Constitutional Court.”

The team’s end goal “should be to uproot the mafioso and corrupt practices in the court, and thouroughly reform the legal system, “he said.

Anies stressed the need to keep the momentum going to ensure legal reform.

Separately, activists urged the President to take firm action against the police and the Attorney General’s Office by replacing senior officials allegedly involved in the plot against the two KPK deputies.

Mustaqim Adamrah and Irawaty Wardany

Source URL: http//www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/11/05/team-8meets-police-chief-quiz-susno-anggodo.html