SUMMARY:

On Wednesday, April 22, Budi Gunawan was inaugurated as the deputy chief of the National Police in a closed ceremony held on the second floor of police headquarters at 2 p.m. Responding to yesterday’s leak that Gunawan would be promoted, police chief Badrodin Haiti explained that the Rank and Promotion Council for High-Ranking Officers (Wanjakti) had approved Gunawan’s nomination in a meeting last week, but an additional meeting of the council had been held last night (Tuesday) in order to accommodate a number of members who had been out of town.

On Tuesday, April 21, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) aired concerns that as deputy chief of police, Budi Gunawan would likely use his position to serve political interests. Gunawan served as an adjutant to PDI-P patron Megawati Sukarnoputri during her term as president and was backed by her party amid allegations he used his position within the police’s career development office to extract bribes from officers in exchange for promotions or prestigious postings. Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) pointed out on Tuesday, April 21, that Gunawan’s promotion wouldexacerbate the perceived rift between his loyalists and the newly inaugurated police chief, Badrodin Haiti. Bonar Tigor Naipospos of the Setara Institute went even further, saying that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was taking a serious gamble with the public’s trust, not only in the police, but also in his own presidency and other government institutions by inaugurating a figure with such a questionable track record. 

Budi Waseso, the head of the National Police Detective Division (BARESKRIM), said on Wednesday, April 22, that regardless of any pending promotions, the case file on Budi Gunawan’s alleged money laundering activities would continue to be examined. The police’s briefing on the progress of the investigation was scheduled for last week, but was postponed because of a lack of coordination with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK). BARESKRIM has reportedly come to preliminary findings in the case, and Budi Waseso said that at this point, the case was too weak to bring charges against Gunawan, adding that no final decisions had been made.

On Tuesday, April 21, members of the House of Representatives’ (DPR) Commission III – which oversees law, human rights and security issues – continued to deliberate components of the Presidential decree in lieu of regulation (Perppu) used to install interim KPK Commissioners Taufiqurrahman Ruki, Indriyanto Seno Adji and Johan Budi. Commission member Nasir Djamil (PKS – Aceh 1) called interim KPK Commissioner Johan Budi’s credentials into question, saying the former KPK spokesman lacked the requisite legal experience needed for the job. Wihadi Wiyanto (Gerindra – East Java 9) also voiced similar concerns before the session was brought to a close. When discussions resumed on Wednesday, April 22, Commission III sought the input of National Police chief Badrodin Haiti and Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo. Haiti was flanked by Budi Waseso, as well as the head of legal affairs Moechgiyarto. Prasetyo was supported by Assistant Attorney General for Special Crimes Widya Pramono. Haiti encouraged the members of Commission III to support the Perppu, as it was proper and necessary step to prevent a weakening of the KPK amid a crisis – one he categorically denied was engineered by the police. H.M. Prasetyo also encouraged the commission to support the Perppu and to avoid getting hung up on small details, such as the removal of the age barrier, which had allowed interim KPK Chair Taufiqurrahman Ruki to step in amid the crisis. Prasetyo pushed the commission to consider the broader fight against corruption and the widespread public support for the KPK as it weighed the decision to support or reject the Perppu. A full commission vote is expected to be held in the evening of Thursday, April 23, followed by a floor vote of the full DPR membership on Friday, April 24.

On Wednesday, April 22, the National Police’s former deputy chief of the traffic division, Didik Purnomo, was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to five years in prison and Rp 250 million fine by a panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court (TIPIKOR). Purnomo was also ordered to forfeit the Rp 50 million bribe he was proven of accepting within a month. Failure to do so, the judge said, would result in additional time in prison or the seizure of his assets. Purnomo is the second high-ranking police official to land behind bars for corruption involving the procurement of driving simulators used to administer driving license exams.

On Tuesday, April 21, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) released the results of its second semester auditof 2014, which highlighted more than 3,000 findings with financial implications upwards of Rp 14 trillion. Specifically, the report showed indications of Rp 1.42 trillion in state losses, Rp 3.77 trillion in potential state losses and Rp 9.55 trillion in state revenue shortfalls.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

Thursday, April 16 – DPR confirms Badrodin Haiti as National Police chief

Thursday, April 16 – KPK questions PDI-P politician and businessman nabbed in raid

Friday, April 17 – Badrodin Haiti inaugurated as National Police chief

Monday, April 20 – Badrodin Haiti convenes assembly of National Police top brass to convey new vision

Monday, April 20 – South Jakarta District Court starts hearings of Jero Wacik’s pre-trial motion

Monday, April 20 – Jakarta TIPIKOR sentences businessman to two years in prison for bribing Fuad Imron Amin

Monday, April 20 – KPK questions South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin on SEA Games athletes’ village

Tuesday, April 21 – KPK Commissioner Zulkarnain encourages DPR to support Perppu, and realism in selection timeline for next commissioners

Tuesday, April 21 – Indonesia Police Watch claims Budi Gunawan to be the next deputy police chief

Wednesday, April 22 – Budi Gunawan inaugurated as deputy police chief

Wednesday, April 22 – Badrodin Haiti and H.M. Prasetyo testify before DPR Commission III in support of Perppu used to appoint interim KPK commissioners

IMPLICATIONS:

The inauguration of Budi Gunawan marks the final chapter in a political saga that began months ago, yet few are confident that it will result in a reduction of pressure against members of the anti-corruption community or facilitate a return of the pre-crisis environment. Comments from BARESKRIM chief Budi Waseso confirmed that cases against inactive KPK Chair Abraham Samad and inactive KPK Vice Chair Bambang Widjojanto will resume underscore fears among civil society organizations. Gunawan’s promotion, especially before his money laundering allegations have been put to rest, sends a troubling message regarding the integrity expected of senior law enforcement officers. Further intensification of the attacks on KPK, and the next KPK Commissioner Selection process, are virtually assured.

Lobbying support from Badrodin Haiti and H.M. Prasetyo was a welcome development of the day as DPR Commission III continued to discuss whether or not to approve the Perppu that underpins the three temporary KPK commissioners’ current duties. Should the DPR move to reject the Perppu in its expected floor vote on Friday, it would have disastrous effects on the anti-graft agency’s ability to continue its work, as its consensus-based decision-making structure would be unable to function with only two remaining commissioners. However, given the popularity of the KPK and the understood consequences, the DPR is unlikely to reject the Perppu.

Today’s conviction of Didik Purnomo serves as a reminder that successful prosecution of police officials for corruption - although the five year sentence handed down by the court was two years short of the prosecutors’ request - is possible. The case benefited from its field work being done under the earlier political climate and would probably not be possible under the current set-up.  If the police are to reverse an overwhelming public perception of mistrust, they must take swift and serious action to root out corruption from within. A serious, comprehensive and independent investigation of the allegations against Budi Gunawan would be a step in the right direction. However, for the time being, that step looks unlikely and it is widely expected that the police will drop its inquiry into the nation’s number-two policeman.

Information as of 5:30 p.m. WIB, April 22, 2015