KPK Protests Arrest of Deputy Chairman

Jakarta (Antara) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has lodged a strong protest following the arrest of its deputy chairman, Bambang Widjojanto, early Friday morning. "KPK strongly protests the arrest of one of its chairmen, Bambang Widjojanto," KPK deputy chairman Adnan Pandu Praja said during a press conference in the afternoon. Bambang Widjojanto was arrested by the police at around 7.30am in Depok, after taking his child to school, and immediately taken to the police Crime Investigation Department for questioning over allegations that he, as a lawyer, ordered a witness to offer false testimony at a Constitutional Court session in 2010 in a dispute over the election of the head of Kotawaringin Barat district in Central Kalimantan. "If the arrest is linked to the case that KPK is currently handling, KPK reiterates that its decision to name Commissioner General BG (suspect) is a purely law enforcement action and nothing else," he said. Pandu reiterated that there was no problem in institutional relations between KPK and the police. "In view of that, we hope that the police, as an institution, will prevent itself from being used for the interest of a certain group," he said. With regard to the problem it is currently facing, KPK called upon the public to unite to fight corruption. "We appeal to the people to unite to fight corruption and parties that hinder corruption eradication efforts," he said in a loud voice, drawing applause from Coalition of Civilian Community members at the conference. KPK's deputy for prevention, Johan Budi, said Bambang Widjojanto's arrest was an arbitrary act. "We have been shown an act of arbitrariness which is unethical, which happened during the arrest of Bambang Widjojanto, who is a state official, that was made while Bambang Widjojanto was returning home from taking his child to school. On behalf of the institution, we will take a stance against what has been shown, and the police," he said.(*)