Red Marks from the KPK

Richard Joost Lino swiftly brushed aside the suggestion of Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) II chairman Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean. Over the phone, on Saturday three weeks ago, Tumpak urged Lino to resign from the top position at the state-owned seaport management company. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had named Lino a corruption suspect; Tumpak briefly lead the KPK between 2009 and 2010. Responding to his chairman, Lino said stepping down would not be the right decision. "That is tantamount to admitting guilt," Lino added.

Instead, Lino asked the Pelindo II board of commissioners, if it saw fit, to recommend his dismissal to State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Rini Soemarno. Representing the government, the SOEs minister is the main stockholder of Pelindo II. Two days later, Tumpak and five other commissioners discussed Lino's request at the Pelindo II office in the Tanjung Priok Harbor Complex, North Jakarta. To obtain the latest regarding the case, Tumpak met with five KPK leaders at their headquarters in South Jakarta on Tuesday two weeks ago. The next day, on the recommendation of the Pelindo II board of commissioners, the SOEs minister removed Lino from his position, which he had held since May 2009.