SUMMARY:

On Monday, May 8, the Attorney General Office (GAO) executed IDR. 13 trillion as “substitute” money to the State; paid as fines by the corruptors in a number of corruption cases.

The GAO stated its plan to reopen a corruption case related to e-KTP (electronic ID card) procurement that was investigated in 2012. In the previous investigation, the GAO named four individuals as suspects before the investigation was halted. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned Sugiarto as the suspect on e-KTP procurement corruption from 9:30 a.m to 4:15 p.m. before releasing him.

In South Sulawesi, lawyers of inactive KPK Chair Abraham Samad stated that there are many irregularities found during the re-enactment of an alleged ID forgery case. The re-enactment was conducted by the South and West Sulawesi Police, on May 17. Samad’s lawyers said that the re-enactment is a way for the police investigators to bring the case to the next level (i.e. prosecution level).

On May 19, Nyoman Suwanjana, the fugitive in the corruption case on Lombok International Airport’s terminal and supporting facilities constructions, was arrested by the GAO intelligence and the East Java High Prosecutor Office teams. The State’s loss due to this case amounts to IDR 45 billion.

At the same time, Criminal Investigation Agency of the National Police (BARESKRIM), conducted a briefing on an alleged corruption case involving the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKK Migas) and PT. TPPI related to natural-gas condensate trading. The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) is expected to trace the cash flow from the trade.

On May 20, KPK brought hundreds of written documents as evidences to the South Jakarta District to dismiss Hadi Poernomo’s pre-trial motion. KPK wanted to show that it has sufficient evidence to name Poernomo as a suspect.

KPK has also indicated that it does not want to be involved in BG’s case because of the recently created hostile conflict between the KPK and the National Police.

On 21 May, the President announced the appointment of nine individuals, all of them are women, as the Selection Committee to select the KPK’s new commisioners. The State Secretary stated that the decision to appoint them as Selection Committe was based on criteria set by the President; which are competency, integrity and expertise in various backgrounds. The Selection Committee is expected to perform their task as soon as possible in a high quality manner.

On the same day, an expert of criminal law from Padjajaran University, Romli Atmasasmita, reported three individuals to BARESKRIM on defamation charges. The three individuals are Emerson Yuntho (Legal Coordinator and Court Monitoring of ICW), Adnan Topan Husodo (ICW’s coordinator) and Said Zainal Abidin (former advisory of KPK). Atmasasmita said that Emerson has made a statement saying that Atmasasmita does not have an ideal track record to be member of the selection committee. Adnan is reported as questioning the integrity and commitment of Atmasasmita to eradicate corruption since Atmasasmita was a witness for Budi Gunawan’s trial. The media quoted the statement from Zainal who said that Romli is supporting corruptors because he was an expert witness for Budi Gunawan.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

Monday, May 18 : The Attorney General Office reopens e-KPT case.

Monday, May 18 : Re-enact of Abraham Samad’s case was held.

Monday, May 18 : e-KTP case’s suspect was questioned.

Tuesday, May 19 : BARESKRIM conducted a briefing on an alleged corruption case involving SKK Migas and PT TPPI.

Wednesday, May 20: KPK confirms that it will not investigate Budi Gunawan.

Thursday, May 21: President Jokowi announced the names of the Selection Committee to select KPK’s leaders.

Thursday, May 21: Members of ICW reported to the Police by a criminal law expert on defamation charges.

IMPLICATIONS:

There seems to be a positive progress in the alleged corruption case on e-KTP procurement because KPK has named Sugiarto, the responsible officer for procurement process (known as PPK), as a suspect a year ago (April 2014). The GAO is also conducting an investigation in the e-KTP procurement from before 2014; however, on a different case than the KPK’s.

There are some new names revealed related to the alleged corruption involving SKK Migas and PT. TPPI. PPATK stated that it has discovered money laundering activity involved in the natural-gas condensate selling by PT TPPI.

The announcement of the 9 individuals with good integrity as the Selection Committee to select KPK’s commissioners has put the public debate to an end. After the appointment, the committee can start to develop their work plan.

The report from criminal law expert against ICW will create a bad precedent for the movement of anti-corruption activists. The report has lengthened the list of criminalized anti-corruption activists.

STATUS UPDATES:

• Destry Damayanti (economist) : Chairwoman of the Selection Committee

• Enny Nurbaningsih (constitutional law expert): Deputy Chairwoman of the Selection Committee

• Harkristuti Haskrisnowo (criminal law expert): Member of the Selection Committee

• Betti Alisjahbana (IT expert): Member of the Selection Committee

• Yenti Ganarsih (expert in criminal law): Member of the Selection Committee

• Supra Wimbarti (physiologist): Member of the Selection Committee

• Natalia Subagyo (public administration expert): Member of the Selection Committee

• Diani Sadiawati (law expert): Member of the Selection Committee

• Meuthia Ganie-Rochman (sociologist): Member of the Selection Committee

• Emerson Yuntho (ICW) : Reported to the Police on defamation charges

• Adnan Topan Husodo (ICW) : Reported to the Police on defamation charges

• Said Zainal Abidin (former advisory of KPK) : Reported to the Police on defamation charges