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Police urged to investigate murder threat against KPK leaders

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A top legislator has asked the police to be pro-active in investigating alleged murder threats against certain Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders.

"As chairman of the House of Representatives` Commission III, I urge the police chief to be pro-active in investigating the allegations and to summon the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders concerned. This is important," Benny K Harman from the Democrat Party said here on Tuesday.

He said the police must immediately summon the KPK leaders who had been threatened and conduct a further investigation.

"The case must be probed so that it will not hinder the KPK leaders in carrying out their duties," he said.

The chairman of the KPK`s Ethics Committee, Abdullah Hehamahua, has said that he had found evidence of a murder threat against KPK leader Chandra M Hamzah and enforcement deputy Ade Raharja in connection with graft suspect Muhammad Nazaruddin`s case.

He said there was a recorded telephone conversation between a man presumably Nazaruddin and a man named Alpang or presumably Albert P in which Nazaruddin had asked Alpang to kill Chandra Hamzah and Ade Raharja in exchange for billions of rupiahs.

"Yes, there is a murder threat. Yes. it is addressed at Chandra Hamzah, Ade Raharja and others," Hehamahua said when asked to confirm it.

Ethics Committee member Syafii Maarif confirmed the threat saying "someone is threatening the KPK especially Ade Raharja."

Syafii declined to mention the name of the person who had made the threat saying only "It is certainly a thug, I do not want to mention the name. A thug is not a thug if he does not threaten."

The telephone conversation allegedly took place in May, 2011. At the time Nazaruddin was being mentioned as the mastermind of the bribery at the SEA Games athlete village project but had not yet been named a suspect.

Nazaruddin is now being held at the police Mobile Brigade Headquarters detention center after being caught in Cartagena, Colombia, on August 7 after being on the run abroad a day before the KPK requested for a travel ban to be issued for him.

Nazaruddin has drawn public attention following his controversial statements made from his hiding place accusing some Democrat Party leaders of involvement in his case.

The KPK meanwhile has been urged to set the Ethics Committee following Nazaruddin`s statement that some of its leaders had once met with him and also other party leaders in connection with a legal case.

The committee members include men known for their integrity such as Syafii Maarif, who was the former chief of the Islamic organization Muhammadiyah.
(T.V002/H-YH/HAJM/B003) Editor: Priyambodo RH COPYRIGHT © 2011

Posted in: Antara news agency,KPK