For New KPK Leadership, Cooperation Is Key to Combating Corruption: KPK Chief
Jakarta. The newly-appointed leader of Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, has kicked off his four-year term with a set of new targets that will see the anti-graft body join hands with other law enforcement agencies.
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo said the commission will dedicate its efforts to tackling "big cases," particularly those involving tax-related money laundering, as well as stepping up measures in corruption prevention.
“It would be a shame for us to focus on [corruption] eradication without also finding ways to prevent graft cases from happening, particularly in Riau, North Sumatra and Banten," Agus said on Tuesday at KPK headquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta.
The graft-ridden provinces are notorious for corrupt former governors who were caught mismanaging provincial funds or taking and receiving bribes, costing Indonesia billions of rupiah in losses. The alarming trend spurred the KPK to summon each province's regional secretary and train them on corruption prevention, Agus said. Other regions to participate include Aceh and Papua.
Aiding the anti-graft body in this ambitious task, he added, are officials from the Home Affairs Ministry, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the Finance Ministry and the State Finance Development Controller (BPKP).
In investigating money laundering cases, the KPK will enlist the help of Indonesia's Financial Transactions Report and Analysis Center, or PPATK.
Agus declined to elaborate on any ongoing investigations, but urged the public to have confidence in the KPK's new leaders, assuring that they will not be afraid to press forward with high-profile cases should they have sufficient evidence.
"Just follow [the KPK's] movements; monitor our developments in preventing and eradicating corruption," he said.
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