The wRap Indonesia: Feb. 20, 2015

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The swearing in of the acting leaders of the anti-graft agency and Lion Air’s massive flight delays lead our wrap of stories from Indonesia today. 

1. Acting KPK chairman promises better coordination with police

The three acting leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) appointed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo were sworn in on Friday morning, February 20, with acting chairman Taufiequrrahman Ruki saying it’s important to improve coordinations with the National Police. Even prior to the current conflict over controversial police chief nominee Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, the two law enforcement institutions have a long history of conflicts, especially as the KPK has jailed corrupt police generals in the past. But Ruki, a former police inspector general and KPK chairman, said coordination was a must. “Without coordination, nothing can be done,” he said. As a former police officer, he said he would take the lead on coordinations with the National Police. 

2. Lion Air promises full refunds after massive flight delays

#BREAKING: Military troops now seen in CGK T3 apron to deal with #LionAir pax. #lionairdelay pic.twitter.com/qtSY4BMng5

— Gerry Soejatman (@GerryS) February 20, 2015

The management of Lion Air on Friday promised full refunds for thousands of angry passengers that have been stranded at the Soekarno Hatta International Airport since Wednesday evening due to damage to 6 planes, including apparently from birds, according to Tempo.co. The airline also said they would send backup planes to transport the passengers. Lion Air in 2014 topped the Indonesian Consumer Foundation’s (YLKI) annual list of 5 airlines that received most complaints from consumers. Out of the 61 complaints received that year, mostly about ticket refunds, flight delays and luggage security, 24 were about the airline owned by Indonesian billionaire Rusdi Kirana. Read the full story in Bahasa Indonesia on Rappler.

3. 600 cops sent to arrest Papua police inspector

After almost 5 months of evading arrest, a Papua police officer convicted for massive corruption was finally arrested early on Friday by 600 police officers, backed up by members of the Indonesian military. Labora Sitorus, a Papua police inspector who was convicted in 2013 after being found to have almost IDR1.5 trillion ($116 million) in his bank accounts, was granted permission to seek medical treatment outside prison in March 2014. He never came back. Though he was just at his home in Sorong, Papua, he was able to evade arrest through a letter from the jail warden saying he was freed from detention, and the protection of local residents. Read the full story in Bahasa Indonesia on Rappler. 

4. Indonesia says execution of Bali Nine pair delayed up to a month

Husain Abdullah, the spokesman for Vice-President Jusuf Kalla, said the execution of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the ringleaders of the so-called Bali Nine heroin trafficking group, “will be delayed for between three weeks to a month from now due to technical reasons,” without elaborating further. Logistical difficulties involving capacity at Nusakambangan – the notorious island prison where 5 inmates were executed last month – had prevented the two Australians being transferred this week as planned. Australia had also requested the men be granted more time with their families, he added. Read the full story on Rappler.

5. KPK case goes to Supreme Court 

The Supreme Court will hear the KPK’s appeal of the South Jakarta District Court’s ruling on Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan’s pre-trial hearing, even though the law technically doesn’t allow it to do that, according to BeritaSatu.com. The lower court, presided by judge Sarpin Rizaldi, sided with Budi, saying the KPK’s decision to name the police general a suspect was not valid. Analysts warned the decision would lead to hundreds of other suspects filing court cases to challenge law enforcement institutions. At the same time, Sarpin was reported to the Supreme Court by the Civil Society Coaliton Against Corruption for allegedly violating the code of ethics of judges in deciding on the case, CNN Indonesia reported. – Rappler.com