Eradicating Internal Corruption, KPK Fires 66 Employees Involved in Extortion

A total of 66 KPK employees were fired as civil servants starting in the second week of May because they were involved in extortion at the KPK detention center.

KOMPAS/PRAYOGI DWI SULISTYO

The perpetrators of illegal extortion in the Corruption Eradication Commission's detention center attended a hearing regarding alleged violations of ethics and behavior at the Anti-Corruption Education Center building of the Corruption Eradication Commission in Jakarta, Thursday (15/2/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The case of illegal levies at the Corruption Eradication Commission detention center has had a long tail. A total of 66 civil servants within the anti-corruption agency were fired because they were proven to have extorted and participated in extortion of detainees. Some of these employees have also been named as suspects in the alleged extortion case worth IDR 6.3 billion.

Head of the News Section of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Ali Fikri, Thursday (25/4/2024), revealed that the decision letter to dismiss 66 employees who were proven to have blackmailed KPK detainees had been handed over to the the employee concerned on Wednesday (24/4/2024). "Letters have been handed over to the fired employees. "The decision will take effect in 15 days," he said.

Ali explained that the decision was taken based on the results of a disciplinary examination of civil servants (PNS) of the Corruption Eradication Committee which was completed on April 2 2024. The examination was carried out by their direct superiors, supervisory elements, and personnel element. The 66 employees were proven to have violated Article 4 Letter i, Article 5 Letter a, and Article 5 Letter k of Government Regulation (PP) Number 94 of 2021 concerning Civil Servant Discipline.

Also read: KPK Investigates Alleged Extortion in KPK Detention Centers Reaching IDR 4 Billion

On April 17, 2024, the Secretary General of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as the official in charge of personnel affairs issued a disciplinary decision at the severe level, in the form of a termination as civil servant, as regulated in Article 8 Paragraph (4) Letter c of Government Regulation No. 94/2021.

KOMPAS/PRAYOGI DWI SULISTYO

Head of the KPK News Section, Ali Fikri

The KPK, continued Ali, will coordinate with the State Civil Service Agency (BKN) to process the dismissal of the 66 KPK civil servants. Coordination is carried out so that employees can receive employment rights in accordance with applicable regulations.

When contacted separately, the Acting Head of the Public Relations, Legal, and Cooperation Bureau of BKN, Nanang Subandi, said that they have not received any data regarding the termination of the 66 employees. He mentioned that the management of the employees is solely under the responsibility of the KPK.

KPK's internal commitment

Ali asserted that the decision to dismiss the employee was part of KPK's commitment to fully resolve violations within the organization. KPK does not tolerate corrupt practices.

Regarding this violation, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has also imposed ethical sanctions based on the decision of the KPK Supervisory Board (Dewas). In addition, KPK is also investigating allegations of corruption crimes. So far, KPK has designated 15 people as suspects and they have been detained.

The decision to dismiss the employee is part of the KPK's commitment to resolving violations within the organization. The KPK does not tolerate corrupt practices.

The suspects, among others, are the Head of the KPK Branch Detention Center (Rutan) Achmad Fauzi as well as seven employed civil servants, namely Hengki, Deden Rochendi, Sopian Hadi, Ristanta, Ari Rahman Hakim , Agung Nugroho, and Eri Angga Permana.

There are also seven detention center branch officers of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) who have become suspects. They are Muhammad Ridwan, Suharlan, Ramadhan Ubaidillah A, Mahdi Aris, Wardoyo, Muhammad Abduh, and Ricky Rachmawanto.

The suspects allegedly asked for a certain amount of money from KPK detainees as compensation for providing exclusive facilities in the form of accelerated isolation periods, services using mobile phones and powerbanks, as well as inspection information.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

A group of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detention center employees were exposed to their detention at the KPK Juang Building, Jakarta, Friday (15/3/2024).

Prisoners who do not or are late in submitting money are given uncomfortable treatment. These include having their cells locked from the outside, being prohibited from and having their allotted exercise time reduced, as well as being given more duties for guard duty and cleanliness.

Also read: Extortion in KPK Detention Center, It's Not Enough Just to Apologize

The investigation into the alleged extortion of KPK detainees is still ongoing. On Thursday, KPK investigators scheduled an examination of 10 security personnel as witnesses.