Indonesia’s KPK and British SFO Strengthen Cross-Border Anti-Corruption Efforts

JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) of Indonesia and the United Kingdom’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) have agreed to enhance their collaboration in combating cross-border corruption. This commitment was solidified during a meeting at the KPK headquarters in Jakarta, where both institutions discussed strategies to strengthen their partnership in tackling international corruption cases.

KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto emphasized the importance of this collaboration, particularly in supporting Indonesia’s accession to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. He expressed hope that the SFO’s expertise in investigating foreign bribery and corporate accountability would aid Indonesia in achieving this goal. Setyo also praised SFO Director Nick Ephgrave for his participation in technical discussions on the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.

The partnership between KPK and SFO dates back to June 7, 2010, when the two agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Since then, they have collaborated on various fronts, including information and data exchange, sharing knowledge on corruption and money laundering tactics, and providing operational training and technical assistance.

Notable cases handled jointly by the two agencies include the bribery scandal in PT Pertamina’s procurement process and the cross-border bribery case involving UK-based company Innospec between 2010 and 2015. Additionally, they have worked together on investigations into bribery cases at PT Garuda Indonesia and allegations involving Rolls-Royce and Airbus.

Setyo highlighted the success of this collaboration, which has been documented in a book titled *Best Practices in International Cooperation in Handling Cross-Jurisdictional Corruption Cases*. He expressed optimism that the partnership would continue to recover state losses and combat corruption effectively.

Nick Ephgrave reaffirmed the SFO’s commitment to supporting KPK’s efforts, describing the Indonesian agency as a strategic partner. He announced that the SFO would send two senior investigators to share best practices in an upcoming workshop, aiming to enhance KPK’s investigative capabilities.

On February 25, 2025, KPK and SFO, in collaboration with the British Embassy, will host a technical training session on investigations. The event will involve various Indonesian institutions, including the Attorney General’s Office, the National Police, and the Indonesian Central Authority.

Looking ahead, KPK and SFO plan to collaborate on implementing regulations related to foreign bribery and corporate accountability as part of Indonesia’s OECD Anti-Bribery Convention accession. The SFO will also contribute to asset recovery efforts through joint investigations, utilizing mechanisms such as Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA), which impose fines and compensation on companies involved in bribery.

This strengthened partnership underscores the shared commitment of KPK and SFO to combat corruption at both national and international levels, ensuring greater accountability and justice in cross-border cases. (Uki Ruknuddin)