REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has requested President Joko Widodo for protection for its investigators and employees, as well as for their families, as they have received a number of threats to their lives.

"We explained to the president that the KPK had received a number of threats. So he promised to take tougher steps to mitigate these," Deputy Chief of the KPK Bambang Widjojanto said here on Wednesday.

The anti-graft agency, he added, has also asked for protection from Deputy Chief of the National Police Commissioner General Badrodin Haiti.

"We have notified the deputy chief of the national police of this serious threat, and thank God we have got a safety guarantee from him and we believe it," he stated.

Widjojanto pointed out that the serious threats had been addressed not only to the staff and employees of the KPK, but also to their families.

"We are alert, but have asked for official agencies to protect KPK's investigators and employees, as well as their families," he affirmed.

Widjojanto noted that KPK Deputy Chief Zulkarnain and Adnan Pandu Praja Bambang had received assurances from Commissioner General Badrodin Haiti that the issue will be resolved.

"We consulted with the deputy chief of the national police to clarify and find the best solution to the issue. We believe that leaders of the national police should pay serious heed to our information and take appropriate measures," he remarked.

Earlier, President Joko Widodo had said that he would wait for the outcome of the ongoing pre-trial process before making a decision regarding the conflict between the anti-corruption body and the national police (Polri), a Team 9 member stated here on Wednesday.

"It is not for us to decide. It is, perhaps, the president's wish to keep the decision pending till the result of the pre-trial process is announced," the Team 9 member, Tumpak Hatorangan, noted after a meeting between his team and the KPK leadership.

Team 9 was set up by Joko Widodo to help settle the conflict between the KPK and the Polri after national police chief candidate Commissioner General Budi Gunawan was named as a suspect in a corruption case and KPK Deputy Chief Bambang Widjojanto was named as a suspect by the police over an alleged false testimony case.

Hatorangan is confident that the president will arrive at a decision.

"Of course, the government will take a stance on the matter later. The KPK will not be left alone. It may be destroyed. The KPK must be saved. I think the government will come to a decision. I do not know what it will be," he opined.

The former KPK commissioner emphasized that the two law enforcement agencies must follow legal procedures.

"Now, we have a pre-trial process," he noted.

Furthermore, Hatorangan revealed that during the meeting, Team 9 only heard about the probe into the corruption case linked to suspicious transactions allegedly involving Commission General Budi Gunawan.

"We were only informed by the (KPK) leadership about how the current investigation is going on, to see whether there are any obstacles," he remarked, adding that there were reports of KPK investigators dealing with the case having received threats.

"The talks included information we received this morning about KPK staff feeling uncomfortable about the current situation involving the terror threats and intimidation tactics they faced, among other subjects. The KPK investigators' feeling of apprehension has become our concern," Jimly Asshidiqie, another Team 9 member, pointed out.

In view of that, Team 9 has appealed to all parties to work towards reducing the tensions, he affirmed.

"We appeal to all sides, in line with the president's directives, to reduce the tensions while awaiting the result of the pre-trial process. It will be announced soon. A decision is likely to be made next Monday," he added.

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