REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has asked the immigration office to prevent Comr. Gen Budi Gunawan, the candidate picked by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to be the country's next police chief, from leaving the country.
The request by the anti graft agency followed its decision to name the three star police general as corruption suspect on Tuesday.
"KPK has sent a letter to the Immigration Directorate General asking it to prevent Budi Gunawan from traveling abroad," KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha said here on Wednesday.
KPK would not want the suspect to be abroad when he is needed for investigation any time, Priharsa said.
Budi Gunawan was charged with receiving bribe when he was head of the Career Development Bureau at the Police Headquarter between 2003 and 3006.
He was one of a number of police generals reported to have suspiciously big banks accounts in 2010.
In July 2013, Budi Gunawan reported his assets worth Rp22.66 billion and US$24,000 , up from Rp4.6 billion in 2008.
In a fit and proper test earlier on Wednesday Budi Gunawan, denied the bribery charge saying the money in his account and that of his family members had legal business sources.
The statement by KPK came with a big bang only a day before he was to face the standard procedure of fit and proper test by the Parliament.
Budi Gunawan (56) is the sole candidate to replace outgoing police chief Ge. Sutarman, who will retire in October.
If found guilty Budi Gunawan will face a maximum punishment of life imprisonment with a fine of up to Rp1 billion.
In July 2013, Budi Gunawan reported his assets worth Rp22.66 billion and US$24,000 , up from Rp4.6 billion in 2008.
Meanwhile former Chief justice of the Constitutional Court Mahfud MD described KPK as "extraordinarily bold".
"I have always seen KPK as courageous . That is normal as it is it duty to be courageous . But today I see the courage is extraordinary," Mahfud, who was also seen as a clean men, said.
He advised KPM to move immediately to bring to court those who have been long given the status of suspects.
"It is necessary to counter allegation that KPK has been politically motivated in naming Budi Gunawan a suspect," he said.
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