"KPK, as a law enforcement agency, is prepared to face this pre-trial lawsuit."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Minister of Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto, has said that the National Police`s lawsuit against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), related to alleged corruption involving the National Traffic Police, can still be discussed by the two national institutions.
"The National Police sued the KPK before the president`s speech and the Chief of Police told me the matter can still be negotiated. Besides, it is not in opposition to the president`s order as contained in the speech some time ago," Suyanto said while accompanying the president at the Halim Perdanakusuma airport here on Tuesday.
Earlier, KPK spokesman Johan Budi said that the commission is ready to face the pre-trial lawsuit from the police, the first hearing for which will take place on Thursday (November 1).
"KPK, as a law enforcement agency, is prepared to face this pre-trial lawsuit," Budi said in a press conference at the KPK building on Monday (October 29).
He also said that the police have the right to file a lawsuit against the commission if there are improprieties in KPK`s conduct.
However, he stated that the commission has followed procedures while conducting raids at the office of the National Traffic Police.
"We received a determination letter from the court for conducting the search and recorded the minutes of search and seizure. We were also witnessed by some officers in the process," Budi explained.
The police sued the KPK over its search related to alleged corruption in the driving license simulator project at the National Traffic Police office in Jakarta on Tuesday (July 31).
According to the chief of National Traffic Police, Inspector General Puji Hartanto, the lawsuit was made by Police Headquarters` lawyers due to some documents seized by the KPK during the search.
"The National Traffic Police requested this action since there were some documents seized by the KPK which have nothing to do with the alleged corruption case," Hartanto explained.
He added that the documents seized by the KPK are needed by the National Traffic Police since they are related to community service.
"If those documents are not returned immediately, it will disturb our work. We have also written an official letter to the KPK asking for the documents to be returned, but they have not been returned yet," he explained.
The National Police`s lawsuit against the KPK was filed by Police Headquarters' lawyers, namely Hotma Sitompoel, Juniver Girsang and Tommy Sihotang at the South Jakarta District Court on Thursday (October 25).
The police has demanded material compensation of Rp425 billion and Rp6 billion in non-material compensation by alleging that the KPK committed offences during the search process.
(U.Y012/INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
