Jokowi Officially Dismisses Firli Bahuri as KPK Chairman

Jakarta – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) signed Presidential Decree Number 129/P of 2023 concerning the dismissal of Firli Bahuri as chair of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Ari Dwipayana, President’s special staff coordinator stated that the presidential decree was signed by President Jokowi on December 28, 2023, and will take effect according to the stipulated date.

"On December 28, 2023, President Jokowi signed Presidential Decree Number 129/P of 2023 concerning the Dismissal of Firli Bahuri as Chair and Member of the Corruption Eradication Committee for the 2019-2024 term of office. The Presidential Decree will come into effect on the date it is stipulated," he said on Friday.

Dwipayana then remarked three main considerations in issuing the presidential decree.

"First, Firli Bahuri's resignation letter dated December 22, 2023," he informed as quoted by Antara site. 

Second, the decision of the KPK Supervisory Board Number 03/Supervisory Council/Etik/12/2023 dated December 27, 2023, and third is Article 32 of Law Number 30 of 2002 concerning the KPK which states that dismissal of the KPK leadership is determined by presidential decree.

Earlier, the Jakarta Metropolitan Office named Firli Bahuri as suspect in the alleged extortion case against former agriculture minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL).

From the ethical perspective, the supervisory board's Ethics Hearing Council declared Firli Bahuri guilty of violating the Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct for KPK personnel regarding his meeting with SYL who was being investigated at the KPK.

Based on these considerations, the KPK Supervisory Board then imposed the heaviest sanctions on Firli Bahuri, namely being asked to step down from his post.

Bahuri has also submitted a letter of resignation to President Jokowi through the Ministry of State Secretary on December 22, 2023.