KPPU`S CREDIBILITY RUINED IF IQBAL REALLY TOOK BRIBE : EX-CHIEF

Jakarta, Sept 17 (ANTARA) - M Iqbal of the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) will have ruined the Commission's credibility if he has really received a bribe, former KPPU chief Sutrisno Iwantono said.

"I hope that the allegation that he has received a bribe is not true. If it is true, it means that he has ruined the KPPU's credibility that has been built up for the past eight years," Iwantono said here on Wednesday.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested M Iqbal, a KPPU commissioner, on Tuesday (Sept 16) for allegedly receiving a bribe of Rp500 million from an executive of Lippo Group, Billy Sundoro. He was arrested in a lift of Aryaduta hotel in Central Jakarta.

Iwantono expressed hope that members of the KPPU would obide by the commission's code of ethics which was issued when the KPPU was established.

The KPPU's code of ethics forbids KPPU members to meet any party involved in a dispute with another party outside the commission's office, particularly in hotels.

He said any meeting must take place in a formal way at the KPPU office and a member was not allowed to receive a guest alone so that the subject discussed would be open and transparent.

Iwantono said that KPPU members should also keep their distance from political parties. "KPPU should maintain independence," he added.

He said he had quit the KPPU because he had sensed the influence of a certain political party in the KPPU.