Antigraft group reports KPK’s new law enforcement deputy over ethical violation

The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Community (MAKI) has reported Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) law enforcement deputy Karyoto to the antigraft body’s supervisory board for an alleged ethics violation. 

MAKI has accused Karyoto, who was appointed in April, of conducting unethical procedures in the recent arrest of a Jakarta State University (UNJ) staff member.

“The arrest of the Jakarta State University staff member at the Education and Culture Ministry [office complex] was allegedly conducted without careful and detailed planning, from the initial reception of complaints to the decision to conduct the arrest,” MAKI coordinator Boyamin Bin Saiman said in a statement on Tuesday.

MAKI filed the report on Tuesday through an email.

Saiman suspected that Karyoto did not involve KPK prosecutors in the preliminary planning and analysis of the case, and did not fulfill the proper investigation administration requirements.

He went on to say that Karyoto did not follow the proper arrest operation procedures, namely wiretapping the suspected parties. 

“If wiretapping was conducted, then I am sure the supervisory board would not even approve it. If there was no wiretapping, then the operation violated the KPK's standard operational procedures,” said Saiman.

In the revised KPK Law, the antigraft body requires permission from the supervisory board to conduct wiretapping for investigations.

He also reported Karyoto for publishing his own version of the press release after the arrest, while formally any KPK releases come from the body’s spokesperson or commissioners. In Karyoto’s statement on the arrest, he also mentioned witnesses in their full names instead of using initials to protect their identity.

The KPK arrested Dwi Achmad Noor, UNJ head of staffing, last Wednesday for allegedly giving illegal holiday bonuses to officials from the Education and Culture Ministry. However, the KPK found no involvement of the state in the case after the arrest and passed it over to the police.

Antigraft activists slammed the operation as the KPK ended up confiscating just US$1,200 and Rp 27.5 million ($1,850), a relatively small amount of money, in addition to the commission hastily handing the case to the police, which might prevent any future development.