Suspend Papua Graft Probe: Lawmaker

Jakarta Globe, Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Nivell Rayda, April 21, 2010

Appearing to bow to party and corporate interests, a Democratic Party legislator has called for investigators to suspend a probe into a Papua district head who has been linked to a Rp 49 billion ($5.4 million) graft case.

Daday Hudaya, a lawmaker from the House of Representatives’ Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, said on Wednesday that the commission had recommended the investigation into Yusak Yaluwo be put on hold until after a local election in which Yusak would be standing.

Yusak, who was detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for his alleged role in embezzling funds from the regional budget, is the head of Boven Digoel district and has been nominated by the Democratic Party to run for governor of South Papua, a new administrative region that is set to be inaugurated later this year.

“We believe his arrest is a politically motivated ploy by his rivals,” Daday said, adding that he would summon KPK and police officials to clarify the case.

Meanwhile, Antonius Narahawarin, an executive from the Korindo Group, which has major logging concessions in Boven Digoel, said Yusak’s arrest had raised concerns among the business community about the safety of supporters of the candidates in the poll.

Bambang Widodo Umar, a legal analyst from the University of Indonesia, said the KPK was not obliged to follow the House commission’s recommendation.

“As long as the KPK has strong evidence to detain Yusak, it should not bow to the House’s demands,” he said.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said it would not drop its investigation. “We’re obliged by the 2003 KPK Law to see any ongoing investigation through to completion,” he said.

“And while it would be possible to release Yusak pending the investigation, that would make our job more difficult.”

Related Article:

KPK detains Boven Digoel regent over alleged graft