Anas Calls On All Parties to Trust KPK

Makassar, South Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Ruling Democrat Party leader Anas Urbaningrum called on all parties to trust the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) with regard to the legal process of the bribery case involving politicians.

He made the statement after installing the party's South Sulawesi regional board members here on Saturday in response to allegations that the arrest of 26 politicians from the Golkar Party, the Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle (PDIP) and the United Development Party (PPP) was politically motivated.

"We respect the due process of law," he said.

He said the case of alleged corruption by the politicians had to be fully referred to KPK as an institution that had authority to investigate them.

"Let the legal process take place, the court decides whether they are guilty or not," he said.

About the fact that Miranda S Goeltom had not been arrested so far, Anas said he was not in a position to explain it because only the KPK could answer the question.

"I think, the KPK will explain it later. I am not in a position to explain it," he said.

Law and Human Rights Ninister Patrialis Akbar meanwhile said in Jakarta on Saturday that the 19 politicians who were suspected of being involved in the case of traveller's check bribery relating to the election of Miranda Goeltom as central bank senior deputy governor in 2004 had been detained separately for investigation purposes.

"I have discussed it with the KPK chief why the 19 former members of the House or Representatives' Commission IX in the 1999-2004 period had been detained separately. This is only temporary for investigation purposes," he said when visiting the Cipinang Detention Facility.

He said it was no problem as it was only temporary for investigation purposes only. However, he said, if a court ruling is already issued all convicts must be sent to Cipinang Penitentiary.

Patrialis visited the Cipinang Penitentiary to inspect the capacity of the penitentiary to accomodate corruption suspects.

He denied that he had deliberately met with nine of the politicians. "I came here to assure the capacity of the detention facility," he asid.

Nine politicians were held at Cipinang while seven others at Salemba. Two women politicians were held at Women's Penitentiary in Tangerang, Banten, while the whistle blower, Agus Condro, at the Jakarta Police detentional facility. (T.SYS/H-YH)