Palace asks Budi Gunawan to accept KPK summons

JAKARTA. State Secretary Pratikno said on Friday that Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, whose inauguration as police chief was postponed after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named him a graft suspect, should comply with a summons from the KPK.

"Well, if we refer to the legal proceedings, [Budi] is supposed to appear [at the KPK's questioning session]," Pratikno said. "But it is not within the authority of the President [Joko Widodo] to [order him to accept the summons]."

Pratikno also confirmed that the Presidential Palace has received a copy of a KPK letter to deputy police chief Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti, asking several police officials to comply with KPK summonses to give testimony as witnesses in Budi's case.

On Thursday night, Jokowi held a meeting with Badrodin and the police’s detective division chief, Insp. Gen. Budi Waseso. Pratikno said he did not know what was discussed during the meeting because he did not attend it. (Ina Parlina)