Bribery-riddled KPPU seeks to boost image

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 01/30/2009 1:18 PM | National

The national antimonopoly agency is striving to regain public trust, after one of its members was detained in connection with a major bribery scandal involving a renowned businessman.

The arrest of Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) member Muhammad Iqbal has severely tarnished the image of the agency.

The KPPU is now revising its code of ethics for its commissioners in an effort to combat its tarnished image and prevent more graft cases.

“We are very close to completing the draft revision,” Junaidi, KPPU spokesman, said Thursday.

Under the prevailing code of ethics, all members of the commission are forbidden from receiving any money or gifts that are related directly or indirectly to their positions.

But it did not stipulate any penalty for those in violation of the code.

Junaidi said a new code of ethics would allow the KPPU to propose that the President fire any violating commissioner.

The KPPU has suspended Iqbal from duty and his position has been temporarily taken over by another commissioner.

It has yet to decide on Iqbal’s long-term employment status, pending the court ruling.

Iqbal was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) last September for allegedly receiving a Rp 500 million ($US53,000) bribe from former First Media president director Billy Sindoro.

The money was allegedly a bribe related to the KPPU ruling on the rights to broadcast English Premier League soccer matches in Indonesia. PT Direct Vision, a subsidiary of the Lippo Group’s First Media and the operator of Astro TV, was involved in the case.

The bribery scandal has smeared the KPPU, which was dubbed one of the country’s cleanest state agencies due to its success in settling cases on ethics and monopoly rights.

Since its establishment in 2000, the KPPU has settled almost 90 cases.

“The KPPU is still considered a credible decision-maker as most of its settlements are predictable and logical. The Direct Vision case was an exception because it was distorted by bribery,” Stefanus Haryanto, a business legal expert, said.

Junaidi further said the KPPU was also seeking to maintain its credibility by maintaining its independence from political and business interests.

However, Monopoly Watch chairman Girry Gemilang Sobar accused KPPU members of having vested interests.

“More than half of the commissioners are affiliated with political parties. That is very risky.” (dis)

Sumber: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/30/briberyriddled-kppu-seeks-boost-image.html