A press release from the Indonesian Students Coalition in Australia on Thursday stated that Gunawans candidacy was feared to hamper corruption eradication efforts as he has a poor track record due to ownership of dubious property.
The coalition pointed out that the property owned by Budi Gunawan and the transactions he made were allegedly derived from bribes, gratuities, and money laundering.
The coalition also emphasized that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) should understand that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), as an institution that has the authority to combat corruption, cannot stop a legal case or issue the Letter of Termination of Investigation, known as SP3.
According to the Coalition, it meant that all the suspects who had been named by the KPK would be detained and would become defendants in the trial.
Taking a cue from all cases handled by the KPK, none of the defendants have been cleared by the corruption court.
Therefore, the Indonesian Students Coalition in Australia noted that the president should display accountability to ensure that the corruption eradication efforts can run smoothly, including those in the Police institution, which requires leaders with clean track record and high integrity.
Several figures in the Coalition include J. Danang Widoyoko, the former Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) coordinator; Usman Hamid, the former coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras); and Yuna Farhan, the former secretary general of the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency, among several others.
Earlier, National Police Chief General Sutarman remarked on Wednesday that his side will provide a legal aid to Budi Gunawan, who has been named a suspect in an alleged corruption case.
"The police will provide a legal aid," Sutarman informed the press after attending a limited meeting at the presidential office here on Wednesday evening.
According to Sutarman, his side will provide the legal aid as Budi Gunawan is an active personnel of the Indonesian National Police.
Sutarman further stated that the appointment of the national police chief is the presidents prerogative.
(O001/INE/O001)
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Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
