Indonesia anti-graft agency braces for challenges after court ruling
Reuters
Published May 27, 2015 06:56AM ET
Indonesia anti-graft agency braces for challenges after court ruling
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's main anti-graft agency is bracing for a flood of legal challenges from corruption convicts and suspects after a court verdict threw into question the legitimacy of its investigations, a senior official said on Wednesday.
A Jakarta court judge on Tuesday ruled that the agency's investigation of graft suspect Hadi Purnomo was illegal because the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) used independent investigators no longer with the police or the Attorney General's Office, media said.
The verdict is the latest blow to the popular agency, which has been severely weakened over the past four months by attacks from the police, the Attorney General's Office, the vice president, and members of President Joko Widodo's own political party.
"The impact of this verdict could potentially make graft suspects and even convicts file lawsuits, which would drain the energy and resources of the KPK," said acting commissioner Johan Budi.
He added the agency was preparing to appeal against the court ruling.
Indonesia consistently ranks among the most corrupt countries in the world, according to Transparency International.
Activists have raised questions about Widodo's anti-graft credentials after the KPK was forced to drop a high-profile investigation into a police general based on a similar court ruling.
The agency has since seen top-ranking officials suspended, a key investigator arrested, and a slew of lawsuits from corruption suspects hoping to be let off.
Get The News You Want
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.