REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was too hasty in naming Commissioner General Budi Gunawan (BG) as a suspect in an alleged case of corruption, the police said here on Thursday (15/1).

"Pak (Mr) BG said he has never been questioned even as a witness till date," Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Inspector General Ronny F. Sompie stated.

He pointed out that investigations carried out by the KPK used to be long-drawn ones and that the processes involved before a suspect was named used to be transparent. However, he added, such was not the case with regard to Budi Gunawan.

"He was named as a suspect even though he has never been questioned as a witness in a case before," Sompie remarked.

The public relations head further noted that the police also questioned the bribery allegations made by the KPK.

It is strange that the supposed recipient was named as a suspect while the identity of the one who gave the bribe has not been made known, he observed, adding that this was different from a corruption case wherein it is possible to name only one suspect.

"In a bribery-related case, naming a suspect without revealing the briber raises questions. Unlike a graft case, a case of bribery must involve more than one persons," Sompie explained.

On Tuesday (January 13), the KPK named Commissioner General Budi Gunawan, who was nominated for the post of the national police chief, as a suspect in an alleged bribery case.

Furthermore, Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR) approved Gunawan's candidacy by acclamation at a plenary session of the parliament.

Nine factions of the DPR approved the appointment of Budi Gunawan as the next national police chief to replace current chief, General Sutarman.

The commission's decision was confirmed at a plenary session of the DPR here on Thursday by all political party factions, except those of the Democratic Party and the National Mandate Party.

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