The Stream

#SaveKPK: Indonesians decry arrest of anti-corruption chief

Twitter users accuse police of trying to undermine corruption investigation.

Indonesians on Twitter are condemning the arrest of one of the heads of the country’s anti-corruption agency. 

On Friday, police detained Bambang Widjojanto, deputy chief of Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on charges of false testimony in a 2010 case. Many online say the arrest is retaliation for the KPK’s investigation of a senior police officer.

Days earlier, the commission accused President Joko Widodo’s nominee for national police chief, Lieutenant General Budi Gunawan, of corruption. Gunawan’s appointment was delayed by the president after the KPK suggested he may have received bribes in the past.

The hashtag #SaveKPK received more than 250,000 mentions on Friday as many rallied in support of the anti-corruption agency.