Gov’t Removes Deadline on Revised Criminal Code Deliberation

President Jokowi accompanied by a number of ministers receives the leaders of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Wednesday (4/7) (Photo: Oji/PR)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday (4/7) at Bogor Presidential Palace received leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) led by the chairman Agus Rahardjo.

During the meeting, on behalf of the KPK Agus expressed its concerns, particularly over the bill of the Law on the Criminal Code (KUHP) being discussed by the Government and the House of Representatives (DPR).

“We have delivered several points, including suggesting that the matter (corruption, red) is better to be regulated outside the KUHP. We also mentioned great risks and ineffectiveness,” Agus told the reporters after the meeting.

Agus also gave several inputs in which the President has instructed related ministers to remove the deadline of the bill of KUHP. “Thus, the deadline which was initially on 17 August will not apply. It will be compiled after our inputs are received. Then the inputs will be taken into account so that there will be no more objections from the KPK,” he said.

The point is, Agus added, the deadline of the deliberation of the bill of KUHP will be postponed until an undetermined date; then the bill will be recompiled by considering the KPK’s inputs.

Asked whether corruption offense is thus omitted from the bill of KUHP, Agus explained that there are a lot of choices and the KPK has affirmed that the offense of corruption, drug, terrorism and human rights may be better (to be regulated) outside the KUHP.

“In fact, if the corruption offense is regulated outside the bill of KUHP, the codification will be done immediately; therefore, the Government will study it again,” Agus said, adding since the beginning the KPK has worked with the Government to discuss this issue.

Also attending the meeting were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H. Laoly, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, as well as other KPK leaders including Basaria Panjaitan, Alexander Marwata, Saut Situmorang, dan Laode Muhammad Syarif. (RAH/ES) (RAS/EP/Naster)