US supporting RI`s anti-corruption efforts

Antara News, Monday, November 29, 2010 21:15 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The US government is supporting Indonesia in its efforts to fight corruption in the country by helping improve the capacity of its Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) personnel.

"Like what President Obama said when he visited Indonesia that the US wished to help Indonesia fight corruption. So cooperation with KPK would be very important with regard to building the capacity of human resources," US ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel, said after meeting with KPK leaders here on Monday.

He said under the cooperation scheme the US would help train and empower the KPK human resources in carrying out investigation and using technology.

"We did not talk about settlement of cases. We are trying to give what KPK would need (to strengthen the capaciity of its human resources)," he said.

He said with regard to efforts to unveil corruption cases many countries had already successfully done them with support from professional human resources while technology in that respect only played a supporting role.

KPK commissioner M Jasin meanwhile said the training to be given to KPK personnel would be wide ranging relating to money laundering, intelligence and latest tapping technology.

"Corruptors are dynamic so we will also conduct consultations in the use of technology if there is the latest one for the purpose," he said.

So far he said KPK had also cooperated with various law enforcement agencies from various countries to strengthen the capacity of KPK personnel.

"We are learning from various sources such as on how to use forensic computers from Australia and techniques of investigation from the FBI. Regularly we send our staff for training in the US but it is not also impossible for us to invite a Star Team for example for asset recovering problems from the World Bank," he said.

While not closing the possibility of new technology transfer to trace corruptors Jasin said the cooperation this time with the US was limited to supporting the development of human resources capacity.