Inclusion of corruption cases in KUHP could lead to abolition of KPK authority in investigation of corruption cases, Indriyanto Seno Adji said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Corruption Eradication Commission asked the government not to include corruption cases in the draft criminal law book (KUHP).
Inclusion of corruption cases in KUHP could lead to abolition of KPK authority in investigation of corruption cases, a deputy chairman of the anti graft agency Indriyanto Seno Adji said.
"We have sent letters to the government on the draft KUHP. In principle we propose not to include corruption case in the draft law. Inclusion of corruption case in the draft law would mean corruption would be categorized as general crimes instead of extraordinary crimes.
"The result could be KPK losing its authority to carry out investigations of corruption criminal cases," Indriyanto said here on Tuesday.
On Monday, Legislation Director General Widodo Ekatjahjana visited KPK to discuss the draft law with KPK leaders including Indriyanto Seno Adji and Johan Budi Sapto Pribowo.
"Similarly, cases of money laundering should not be included in the draft KUHP," Indriyanto said.
Another reason for submitting the proposal is the principle of "Lex Specialis" in the draft KUHP that clearly intends to maintain KPK authority inm handling corruption cases, he said.
"In case that corruption criminal cases have to be integrated in the draft KUHP , there should be a clause confirming the authority of law enforcement agencies including KPK in investigating corruption cases or offenses in or outside KUHP. Otherwise it is feared there would delegitimation of KPK," Indriyanto said.
Rejection of the proposal is feared to give room for attempt to weaken KPK, he said.
"KPK would be a toothless tiger," he said.
Lalola Easter from the Indonesia Corruption Watch also urged the government to take out cases of corruption and other cases categorized as extraordinary crimes from the draft KUHP.
"Corruption criminal offenses have to be kept outside KUHP as KUHP concerns only generic crimes,"Lalola said in a statement.
Inclusion of corruption cases in KUHP would mean corruption is no longer an extraordinary crime, he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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