JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's main anti-graft
agency is bracing for a flood of legal challenges
from corruption convicts and suspects after a
court verdict threw into question the legitimacy of
its investigations, a senior official said on
Wednesday.
A Jakarta court judge on Tuesday ruled that the
agency's investigation of graft suspect Hadi
Purnomo was illegal because the Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK) used independent
investigators no longer with the police or the
Attorney General's Office, media said.
The verdict is the latest blow to the popular
agency, which has been severely weakened over
the past four months by attacks from the police,
the Attorney General's Office, the vice president,
and members of President Joko Widodo's own
political party.
"The impact of this verdict could potentially make
graft suspects and even convicts file lawsuits,
which would drain the energy and resources of
the KPK," said acting commissioner Johan Budi.
He added the agency was preparing to appeal
against the court ruling.
Indonesia consistently ranks among the most
corrupt countries in the world, according to
Transparency International.
Activists have raised questions about Widodo's
anti-graft credentials after the KPK was forced to
drop a high-profile investigation into a police
general based on a similar court ruling.
The agency has since seen top-ranking officials
suspended, a key investigator arrested, and a slew
of lawsuits from corruption suspects hoping to be
let off.
Intelijen.co.id