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Roundup: Indonesian president's anti-corruption stance tested upon police chief candidacy

Xinhua, January 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

The anti-corruption commitment of Indonesian President Joko Widodo was tested by his appointment on General Budi Gunawan, a senior police officer declared as a corruption suspect by the nation's powerful anti-graft commission.

Despite the suspect status slapped against Budi, the Indonesian parliament approved his nomination on Thursday to become the nation's police chief to replace General Soetarman.

The approval came at the parliament's plenary session following a "fit and proper" test conducted by legislators from the Commission III on Wednesday.

With the parliament's consent, President Widodo can immediately inaugurate Budi as the new police chief.

Budi, the only candidate to head the nation's police, was named on Tuesday by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as a corruption suspect after an investigation since July last year.

"Commissioner General Budi is a suspect in a corruption crime case when he served as the head of career development section in police headquarters," KPK Chairman Abraham Samad told a press conference.

He added that KPK officials have investigated suspicious transactions carried out by the three-star general.

The KPK issued a travel ban on Wednesday against Budi and three other people involved in the corruption case, including his son, pending a further investigation.

President Widodo said an internal police investigation has cleared Budi of any wrongdoing, but his choice still drew criticism.

Hundreds of people, who helped Widodo to win the presidential election in July on a platform of reform and anti-corruption, urged him to revoke the nomination of Budi. They pledged full support for the KPK to continue its investigation against Budi.

"The option on Budi Gunawan was wrong choice because he is already declared suspect by the KPK," Olga Lidya, who was a staunch supporter of President Widodo, said in the KPK building on Wednesday.

"We have the responsibility from the supports that we have provided for. The supports that we gave come with the expectation to see a corruption-free Indonesia," Olga added.

Budi was accused of amassing wealth during his service in the 2000s. According to the KPK, his assets rose to more than 22 billion rupiah (about 1.7 million U.S. dollars) in 2013 despite his monthly salary plus allowances that stood at 20 million rupiah (about 1,600 U.S. dollars). Endi