INDONESIA'S CORRUPTION ERADICATION COMMISSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001203 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, E, INL DOJ FOR CRIM AAG SWARTZ, DOJ/OPDAT FOR BERMAN NSC FOR J.BADER; MCC FOR ISMAIL E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2019 TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCOR ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA'S CORRUPTION ERADICATION COMMISSION UNDER FIRE JAKARTA 00001203 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has hit another road block. KPK-police tensions have escalated in recent weeks, with both sides threatening to bring corruption charges against the other's leaders. Although President Yudhoyono had convened a meeting to stem the mounting tensions, three of the four remaining KPK commissioners may still be declared as suspects in an ongoing investigation. If the police declare additional KPK Commissioners as suspects, the allegations could cripple the KPK. END SUMMARY. INSTITUTIONAL RIVALRY THREATENS KPK ¶2. (SBU) The KPK has arrested and successfully prosecuted numerous high-level cases during its six-year history. This success has led to institutional rivalries with the police and Attorney General's Office, the two bodies who also investigate and prosecute corruption cases and are sometimes the subject of KPK investigations. The KPK has had a series of public rifts with the police, Attorney General's Office, and other government institutions, including the Supreme Court, Attorney General's Office, and Parliament. ¶3. (SBU) The latest controversy with the police involved both parties accusing the other of corrupt actions. The KPK allegedly caught Indonesian police investigation head Susno asking for a bribe, according to media reports and contacts. The police were investigating KPK commissioner Chandra Hamzah,s approval of wiretapping connected to former KPK chair Antasari Azhar,s alleged masterminding of a murder, according to media reports. Police also were investigating an extortion case involving KPK commissioners. With former KPK chairman Azhar suspended due to his alleged role in a murder, the KPK suffered a blow to its super-clean image. Further suspensions of KPK commissioners would cripple the organization. YUDHOYONO URGES IMPROVED COOPERATION ¶4. (C) President Yudhoyono met with the leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK),police, Attorney General's Office, Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, Supreme Audit Board, and other Ministers on July 13 to discuss corruption eradication and prevention. Yudhoyono, who had just won reelection for President in part on an anti-corruption platform (reftel),outlined ten principles to guide further anti-corruption reform, focusing on law enforcement cooperation and coordination. While he supports the KPK, Yudhoyono was angered when the KPK did not inform him before high-profile arrests (e.g., arrest of his son,s father-in-law Aulia Pohan),according to a contact close to the KPK. Suspended KPK head Antasari Azhar had already ended the KPK,s practice of informally briefing the President on high-profile cases. ¶5. (SBU) Yudhoyono said law enforcement institutions must notify their respective institutions if they were going to bring charges against them (e.g., KPK arresting a police officer or prosecutor). Another principle calls for a higher burden of proof when investigating fellow law enforcement officials, according to a contact close to the KPK. This was a clear signal to all members regarding the current KPK-police controversy surrounding possible arrests of each other,s leaders. CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR KPK ¶6. (C) The July 13 meeting may have only temporarily eased the police-KPK tensions. After the Yudhoyono meeting, Police Chief Danuri publicly said the police have no plans to arrest any KPK officials. In a July 15 conversation with Legatt, KPK Commissioner Chandra Hamzah, KPK Commissioner Moch Jasin and anti-corruption activist and former KPK Commissioner Erry Hardjapamekas indicated that General Susno Duadji believed their corruption case was strong enough to declare several of the KPK commissioners as suspects. If additional KPK commissioners are declared suspects in any case, the KPK would lack the leadership needed to carry out its anti-corruption mandate. This in turn could undermine the Indonesian anti-corruption effort, which many Indonesian citizens strongly support. JAKARTA 00001203 002.2 OF 002 HUME