Susno Duadji - After showing unprecedented courage in publicly diclosing case-brokering practices in the police force, former police chief detective Susno Duadji is now being seen by some civil society elements as the right person to lead the country`s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Susno Ditangkap - Dr Ir Ricky Avenzora, one of the founders of the Indonesian Nationalists Association (Pernasindo) said Susno Duadji is the right figure to take up the now vacant post of Head of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
"In view of Susno Duadji`s firmness and strong personality, he deserves to become the new KPK chief. KPK is in need of a high quality leader like him," he said.
Eighty-eight national figures in early June 2006 declared the establishment of Pernasindo -- in which Kwik Kian Gie is presidium chairman -- an organization which is expected to serve as some kind of national think-tank contributing ideas and thoughts for national self-reliance.
Those who issued the declaration included former Jakarta Governor Ali Sadikin, historian Asvi Warman Adam, Christianus Siner Key Timu of Petition 50, Guruh Soekarnoputra, Jaya Suprana, Marissa Haque, senior lawyer Luput Hasibuan, economist Revrisond Baswir, former deputy chairman of the National Commission for Human Rights Salahuddin Wahid, Sri Edi Swasono, Aria Bima, former lawmaker Bambang Warih Kusuma, and the former Governor of the National Defense Institute Ermaya Suradinata.
Ricky said Susno`s track record was very clear and already tested both as deputy chairman of the Financial Transactions Report and Analysis (PPATK) and when he was West Java Police Chief.
"Nobody in KPK now has a track record as clear as Susno`s. His joining the KPK will no doubt strengthen the institution," said Ricky who is also a lecturer at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB).
Susno showed a rare civil servant`s courage when he publicly stated that two police brigadier generals had acted as case brokers in money laundering and tax evasion cases. Some civil society quarters saw his disclosure as good public communications and a positive contribution to the creation of a transparent police force.
"In the eyes of high ranking police officers, Susno`s move to reveal alleged case brokers in the police institution is inappropriate and infuriating but we need people like him to uncover irregularities in the police force," communications expert Ade Armando of the University of Indonesia (UI) said.
What was disclosed by Susno was a positive aspect of democracy in a transparent society. If Susno had discussed the matter internally with the police leadership, it would never have been revealed to the public.
"Here democracy shows its virtue. Once a case is disclosed, a chain of reactions will follow. Because Susno felt offended by what was done to him by other high ranking police officers, now he talks to the media," the communications expert said.
That is why, in this case, politeness in communications is no longer important because what is important is to provide information to the public, according to Ade Armando.
Having studied Susno`s statements and action in revealing some disdainful practices within the police force Ade Armando also conluded that Susno was the right person to lead the KPK.
KPK is in need of a figure who has the courage to uncover the irregulities and case brokerage activity tacitly perpetuated by high ranking officials in the police.
In the meantime, Said Nizar, an expert on international law at Hassanuddin state university, said that he also presumed Susno as a figure suitable for the top KPK post.
However, the top post of KPK not only needed a prospective leader who had the courage to take action but also one who was smart enough to investigate corruption cases.
"In my view, Susno will surely be able to do it, as he is a former chief of the police`s detective unit tasked with the work to investigate many cases," Nizar said.
But the problem was who would want to appoint him to lead KPK. "I don`t think that the government will consider Sisno as a candidate suitable to lead KPK, because he is regarded as a controvercial figure who will not be in favor of the government`s interest in the long run."
Susno made headlines with his claims that three high-raking National Police officials accepted Rp25 billion in bribes to drop an investigation into a tax evasion case.
In his previous statements, Susno mentioned the initials of two brigadier generals, namely R.E. and E.I. and several middle-ranking officials, who he said had acted as case brokers in money laundering and tax evasion cases.
Susno told the media that last year, while he was serving as the chief detective, his division was investigating a report about an account that had suddenly received a Rp25 billion deposit.
However, in November 2009 before the investigations were completed, Susno was dismissed from his position for his alleged role in the framing of two anti-corruption body officials.
He was later informed that the investigation had been stopped after which he also discovered that police had tampered with the investigation and stolen some of the money.