Agus Rahardjo's Achievements as Head of the KPK (2015-2019)

Agus Rahardjo's name has resurfaced following his admission regarding a case he handled while leading the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) from 2015-2019.

Agus claims he was summoned alone to the State Palace by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Jokowi, he says, angrily demanded that he halt the mega-corruption case involving the e-KTP (electronic ID card) that ensnared Setya Novanto, Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) from 2014-2019 and Golkar Party chairman.

This case, which caused state losses exceeding Rp2.3 trillion, was just one of many handled by Agus Rahardjo and his colleagues.

According to CNN Indonesia, the KPK's 2016-2019 performance report shows 539 cases at the investigation stage, 498 at the inquiry stage, and 433 at the prosecution stage.

Furthermore, there were 383 executions and 286 cases with legally binding force (inkrah). There were also 87 cases stemming from sting operations (OTT), considered entry points for uncovering cases, resulting in 327 suspects.

This enforcement was carried out by the KPK under Agus Rahardjo, along with other commissioners: Saut Situmorang, Basaria Panjaitan, Laode M Syarif, and Alexander Marwata.

"Over the past four years, we have handled 608 suspects in various types of cases," stated KPK Deputy Chairman Saut Situmorang at a press conference at the KPK Support Building in Jakarta on Tuesday, December 17, 2019.

The e-KTP corruption case itself had been under investigation since 2014. The KPK resumed handling it in 2016, and by 2022, 14 suspects had been named.

(Read also: [Link to article about KPK's OTT under Firli Bahuri])

Jokowi's Anger at Agus

According to Katadata, Jokowi, accompanied by State Secretary Minister Pratikno, expressed his anger to Agus.

"As soon as I entered, the President was already angry. He shouted: Stop it," Agus said in an interview on Kompas TV, Thursday, November 30, 2023.

Initially, Agus said he was puzzled about what Jokowi wanted stopped. It turned out to be the e-KTP case.

"After I sat down (and received an explanation), it turned out that what was to be stopped was Mr. Setnov's case," he said.

Agus then explained to Jokowi that the Investigation Order (Sprindik) for suspect Setya Novanto had been issued three weeks prior.

"We also (at that time) did not have the authority to issue a warrant for the termination of the investigation (SP3)," he said.

Agus said he didn't tell other commissioners about the summons. However, he later realized that Jokowi felt the KPK didn't want to be ordered around. Agus continued that after the incident, there was a revision of the KPK Law, including the introduction of SP3, placing it under the President.

(Read also: [Link to article about KPK's performance under Firli Bahuri])

The Palace Denies Jokowi's Request to Stop the e-KTP Case

Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana stated that they found no record of the meeting.

"After checking, the meeting in question is not on the President's agenda," Ari said via WhatsApp message, as reported by Katadata on Friday, December 1, 2023.

Ari also denied any special instructions from Jokowi to the KPK to halt legal proceedings against Setnov.

"In reality, the legal process against Setya Novanto continued in 2017, and there has been a legally binding court decision," Ari said.

(Read also: [Link to article about gratification cases in Indonesia])