KPK Seeks Penalties Against Officials Who Fail to Disclose Their Wealth

Jakarta Globe, March 16, 2016

Pahala Nainggolan, left, the deputy for graft prevention at the Corruption Eradication
 Commission (KPK), seeks firm sanctions against public officials who fail to declare
their assets and the source of their wealth. (Antara Photo/M Agung Rajasa)

Jakarta. The Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, is set to propose stronger penalties against public officials who fail to submit their wealth reports to the agency, an official said on Wednesday (16/03).

Pahala Nainggolan, the KPK's deputy for graft prevention, said the antigraft agency was currently working on a draft government regulation in a bid to penalize public officials who fail to declare their assets and the source of their wealth.

The KPK announced last week that 209 of the 560 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, including House Speaker Ade Komaruddin of Golkar Party, have not yet submitted wealth reports for various reasons.

"An academic paper has been drafted and this government regulation will legally compel public officials to submit their wealth reports. If they fail to do so, there will be penalties, including salary cuts and moratoriums on promotions. Submission of a wealth report could also become a requirement for promotion," Pahala told reporters at the KPK offices in Jakarta, as reported by Antara news agency.

The KPK Law stipulates that every law enforcer and high-ranking public official is required to submit a wealth report to the antigraft agency before and after taking up a position in order to promote greater transparency.

The current regulation does not stipulate any form of sanction or penalty against public officials who refuse to comply with this requirement.

"[The regulation] must be clear and apply to all [public officials]. At the moment, the submission of a wealth report really depends on the ministers. If they are good people, they will push for it," Pahala explained.

The KPK is working to allow the wealth-reporting process to be submitted online, Pahala said. However, he added that public officials would be required to declare their assets every year.