Nivell Rayda

Antigraft officials Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto celebrating their return to office on Tuesday with nasi tumpeng, which was decorated with carrots shaped like geckos. (Photo: Afriadi Hikmal, JG)

‘Grateful’ KPK Deputies to Return to Duty, Vow to Investigate Bank Century Scandal

Following a long, arduous legal battle, Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M Hamzah were reinstated on Tuesday as deputy commissioners of the Corruption Eradication Commission, almost three months after they were suspended after being declared suspects in a case of abuse of power and extortion.

The pair returned to the commission, also known as the KPK, in a modest ceremony that also saw the honorable discharge of their temporary replacements, Mas Achmad Santosa and Waluyo.

KPK officials jubilantly welcomed Bibit and Chandra. So did students from various universities, who had spent weeks stationed outside the KPK office in South Jakarta to protest against the deputies’ suspension and arrest by police.

Their aim finally achieved, the demonstrating students decamped from the front of the KPK office on Tuesday night.

Antigraft activists from Indonesia Corruption Watch and the Anticorruption Civil Society Coalition (Kompak) were also present at the ceremony.

They greeted Bibit and Chandra with nasi tumpeng, a traditional cone-shaped yellow rice dish served only on special occasions.

Nasi tumpeng is a symbol of joy and gratefulness in Javanese tradition.

“I owe a great debt to all elements of society, antigraft activists and the media. The course of history would be very different had it not been for the constant public pressure,” Chandra told reporters after the ceremony.

“I am happy that people still love the KPK and have taken a stand against corrupt officials attempting to undermine the commission.”

In his farewell speech, Waluyo said Bibit and Chandra were indebted to the people and would now be tasked with carrying out investigations into the controversial Rp 6.7 trillion ($710 million) bailout of Bank Century.

Bibit said the KPK had begun probing the Bank Century scandal even before he was suspended.

“It was already under investigation. At the time, we had convened with the BPK and PPATK to request a probe into the case,” he said, referring to the Supreme Audit Agency and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center.

“If there are indications of corruption, we will definitely pursue the case further.”

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