Activist calls for Irman Gusman to step down

JAKARTA. An anti-corruption activist has suggested that Irman Gusman, a state official named a suspect for allegedly accepting a bribe, step down as a Regional Representatives Council (DPD) speaker.

“If I were him, I would tender my resignation so that I don’t tarnish the institution’s image,” Adnan Topan Husodo from Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) said on Monday.

Irman was named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Saturday for allegedly accepting a Rp 100 million (US$7,600) bribe in return for recommending to the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) that it give a quota on imported sugar to CV Semesta Berjaya led by Xaveriandy Sutanto. It is alleged that Xaveriandy gave the money to Irman on Friday night.

Adnan also said that Irman would not be able to exploit his position during the judicial process if he stepped down.

Furthermore, Adnan said Irman’s case should serve as a wake-up call for the government to create a legal framework to punish those who engage in the corrupt peddling of influence.

If there is no money involved in the case, Irman cannot be touched by the law, Adnan noted.

He argued that as a DPD speaker, Irman did not have the authority to issue a recommendation to Bulog, and hence, the selling of influence should be regulated.