Grafts prosecution politicized ahead of elections: SBY

Grafts prosecution politicized ahead of elections: SBY


Bagus BT Saragih, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Tue, December 10 2013, 10:45 AM


Amid allegations that some individuals within his inner circle could be implicated in corruption, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on the public to refrain from turning the prosecution of graft cases into a political circus ahead of the 2014 general elections.

Yudhoyono also suggested on Monday that the media had played a role in spinning news on corruption cases, which, he said, could affect law enforcement.

“In less than a month, we will have entered the election year. Law enforcement agencies will keep on investigating graft cases but they must be just and fair. There should not give the impression that law enforcement could be utilized by certain political groups, giving politicians a ‘platform’ to ‘play’,” the President said at the State Palace in his address during celebrations for International Anti-Corruption Day.

The ruling Democratic Party tops the list of parties with the largest number of members implicated in graft cases. Recently, more evidence came to light on the alleged involvement of those within his inner circle.

A document believed to be a Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) case dossier, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post, detailed the role of Sylvia Sholehah, also known as Ibu Pur, a close friend of First Lady Ani Yudhoyono whose husband was Yudhoyono’s classmate at the military academy; and Widodo Wisnu Sayoko, who was said to be the President’s cousin.

Effendi Saman, the lawyer for Deviardi, a suspect in a bribery case involving former Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas) chief Rudi Rubiandini, also said on Monday that the US$400,000 in bribes accepted by Rudi had been aimed at “financing [Democratic] party’s activities” and channeling “holiday stipends” to the House of Representatives’ Commission VII, which oversees energy.

Senior politician and one of the Democratic Party’s founders, Sutan Bhatoegana, who is chairman of the commission, has also been suspected of requesting kickbacks from the project under the guise of “holiday stipends”.

“If there are news reports being discussed by the public, law enforcers shall make clarification. Such unconfirmed information is quickly speculated about in the public realm. Those who are not necessarily guilty can be ‘tried by the press’,” Yudhoyono said.

Yudhoyono warned the media could have an ulterior motive.

“Many reports by the media about corruption cases are actually positive. They must not be motivated by malicious intentions. The press must not mix facts and opinion [...] That is a basic principle in journalists’ code of ethics,” he added.

The President also pointed out the “negative impact” of corruption eradication. “[We have seen a] phenomena whereby officials are reluctant to make decisions and distribute budget as they are afraid they could be charged because of their action. I have received complaints from governors, mayors and regents that such an issue had restrained regional development,” he said.

“Therefore, I call on law enforcers to carry out their investigations in a way that does not harm the work of the government,” Yudhoyono added.

KPK chairman Abraham Samad, who was also present at the ceremony, said government officials should not be afraid if they were not corrupt.

Meanwhile, to mark International Anti-Corruption Day, the KPK started the construction of its new headquarters in Guntur, South Jakarta, on Monday.

KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto led the groundbreaking ceremony.

“The sun light we have today is not ordinary […] this is symbolic [...] this [project] will be blessed by God,” Bambang said.

In Gorontalo, students marked Anti-Corruption Day by rallying and demanding the KPK be disbanded. “The KPK has half-heartedly handled major graft cases like Bank Century and Hambalang,” one of the students, Zulkifli, said.



Syamsul Huda M. Suhari contributed to this report from Gorontalo.