Why SETARA Pushes for KPK to Handle Febrie Adriansyah's Case

August 5, 2026 | 01:36 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Human rights watchdog SETARA Institute has urged President Prabowo Subianto to order the transfer of the case involving former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), saying the move is necessary to restore public trust in law enforcement.

“President Prabowo should instruct that the handling of Febrie Adriansyah’s case be transferred to the KPK, so the legal process can proceed without conflicts of interest and regain public confidence,” SETARA Institute National Council Chairman Hendardi said in a written statement on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026.

SETARA Questions Transparency in Febrie Case

The call came after the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) said that some details related to the investigation could not be disclosed to the public. Hendardi said the statement raised concerns and could deepen public suspicion over the case.

While confidentiality is allowed in certain stages of an investigation, especially in cases involving high-ranking legal officials, Hendardi said it must not be used as a shield to avoid accountability.

“The greater the public interest in a case, the higher the standard of transparency expected from law enforcement authorities,” he said.

According to Hendardi, the AGO’s statement has strengthened public perception that information may be withheld from the public. He argued that several developments have raised questions over whether the institution is handling the case in a professional, accountable, and credible manner.

Different Treatment Raises Public Concerns

One of the concerns, he said, was Febrie’s treatment after being placed at the KPK detention center as a suspect. Hendardi pointed out that Febrie was not required to wear a detainee vest or handcuffs, unlike the usual procedures applied to corruption suspects.

He said the different treatment had hurt public perceptions of fairness and created the impression that Febrie received preferential treatment.

Hendardi also criticized AGO investigators for conducting searches without providing sufficient explanations regarding their relevance or findings. He said the series of irregularities had fueled speculation and continued to weaken public confidence in the objectivity of the investigation.

Potential Conflict of Interest in Investigation

The watchdog said public concerns were understandable because the AGO is handling a case involving its own former senior official.

According to Hendardi, the institution’s independence and impartiality will continue to be questioned due to the potential conflict of interest.

“Under such circumstances, the independence and objectivity of the case handling will always be questioned, regardless of how well the process is claimed to have been carried out,” Hendardi said.

SETARA Calls Transfer to KPK a Political Signal

SETARA Institute said transferring the case to the KPK would demonstrate Prabowo’s commitment to law enforcement and prevent further erosion of the government’s credibility amid public concerns that legal processes could be manipulated to protect certain officials.

“Transferring the case to the KPK is a constitutional step to ensure that justice is upheld independently, free from conflicts of interest, and acceptable to public reason,” Hendardi said.

Previously, Attorney General’s Office Deputy Attorney General for Oversight Rudi Margono, who leads the AGO’s Team 9 investigating the case, said Febrie was named a suspect for alleged money laundering.

“Generally, the alleged money laundering was committed by a state official in his capacity as a prosecutor or structural official during his service at the Attorney General’s Office,” Rudi said.

Febrie is currently being held at the KPK detention center in South Jakarta.

Jihan Ristiyanti contributed to the writing of this article.

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