The KPK summoned Brigadier General Herry Prastowo, who is the director of general crime investigation, and Senior Commissioner Ibnu Isticha, who is a senior lecturer of the Police Institute.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has begun questioning witnesses in connection with an alleged bribery case involving Commissioner General Budi Gunawan here on Monday.

The KPK summoned Brigadier General Herry Prastowo, who is the director of general crime investigation, and Senior Commissioner Ibnu Isticha, who is a senior lecturer of the Police Institute, to be questioned as witnesses over the case that day.

"The two are questioned for suspect BG (Budi Gunawan)," Priharsa Nugraha, the head of news and information, noted.

The KPK had earlier stated that the settlement of the case would be expedited to prevent unrest in the community.

The commissioner general, who is chief of the Institutions of Police, has recently been named the national police chief candidate, but his inauguration has been postponed after the KPK named him a suspect in a corruption case.

On Friday, President Joko Widodo ordered Deputy National Police Chief Commissioner General Badrodin Haiti to act as national police chief following the dismissal of General Sutarman.

The KPK has, so far, barred Budi Gunawan, his son Muhammad Hervianto Widyatama, Budis assitant Iie Tiara, and Inspector General Syahtria Sitepu from travelling abroad to ease the questioning process.

In 2005, Hervianto, while he was still 19, received a loan in cash worth US$5.9 billion from PT Pacific Blue and Rp32 billion of the total loan amount was transferred to Budi Gunawans account. The transaction, however, has been checked and declared as a normal transaction by the Crime Investigation Agency.

Budi Gunawan was allegedly involved in suspicious transactions when he was the head of career development and the deputy for human resources between 2003 and 2006 and also held other positions.

The KPK has charged him of violating several articles in the corruption law carrying a sentence of 4-20 years in jail or life imprisonment.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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