"KPK respects what the President has decided. KPK is not in the habit of commenting on the decision taken by the President with regards to the appointment and postponement that has taken place within the police force," he said.
President Joko Widodo had issued two decrees on Friday, dismissing General Sutarman as national police chief and replacing him with Deputy Police Chief Commissioner General Badrodin Haiti as acting national police chief.
The decision was taken after new National Police Chief hopeful Commissioner General Budi Gunawan, despite the parliaments approval, was named as a corruption suspect by the KPK in connection with the rewards he allegedly received during suspicious transactions.
"KPK, in its capacity as a law enforcement agency, will concentrate on handling the cases under its authority," Bambang stated.
With regards to Budis investigation, he said the KPK will continue to work together with other law enforcement agencies.
"We will carry out the main tasks and functions in the field of corruption eradication and continue to work along with other law enforcement agencies and programs that have been designed and planned, including our collaboration with the police force, the attorney general's office, the supreme court and the constitutional court," he added.
"We are currently chalking out a schedule for the investigation and once it is finished, we will summon the potential witnesses," he said on Thursday.
KPK has so far barred four people from leaving the country in connection with Budi Gunawans case, including Budi Gunawan himself, his son Muhammad Herviano Widyatama, Budis Assistant Police officer Iie Tiara and Inspector General Syatria Sitepu.
KPK Chief Abraham Samad reiterated that the KPK will strive to settle the case before December 2015 or by the end of the current term of KPK commissioners.
"God willing, this will be settled by the end of our term. We will concentrate on settling the case before our tenure ends. God willing, a ruling will be issued before our term ends," he said on Thursday.
Budi Gunawan has been charged for violating several articles under Law Number 31 of 1999, which was amended into Law Number 20, 2001, which governs the corrupt practices of civil servants in exchange for certain favors related to their position.
If proven guilty, Budi Gunawan may face a life in prison or four to 20 years in jail plus a maximum fine of Rp1 billion.
(Reporting by Desca Lidya Natalia/Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
