Abraham Samad (born 27 November 1966) is an Indonesian lawyer and activist who was elected in December 2011 as chair of the country's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for 2011–2015.[1]
Abraham Samad | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairman of Corruption Eradication Commission | |
| In office 2011–2015 | |
| Deputy | Busyro Muqoddas Bambang Widjojanto Adnan Pandu Pradja Zulkarnaen |
| Preceded by | Busyro Muqoddas |
| Succeeded by | Taufiequrachman Ruki (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 November 1966 Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia |
| Alma mater | Hasanuddin University |
Early life
editAbraham was born on 27 November 1966[2] in Makassar, South Sulawesi.[3] He and his five siblings were the children of an army captain and his wife Indriana Kartika,[4] an employee of the Department of Information; as of 2012[update], three of his siblings work for the state television station TVRI while his brother Imran is a district head in Rappocini, Makassar. According to Imran, as a child Abraham was hard-headed and forceful when he wanted something.[5]
Abraham, who enjoyed reading about Abraham Lincoln as a youth and considered the American president a hero, attended Kunjung Mae Elementary School in Makassar. He attended three different junior high schools, eventually graduating from Sulaiman Catholic Junior High School. He then finished his secondary education at Cenderawasih Catholic Senior High School. During this period he was known as a quarrelsome student.[5]
Career
editAbraham received a bachelor of law degree from Hasanuddin University; he later received his master's and doctoral degrees from the same institution, the latter in 2010.[3] Two years after receiving his bachelor's, Abraham began practising law. He later founded the Anti-Corruption Committee of South Sulawesi, serving as its coordinator. The Jakarta Post describes Abraham as close to several conservative Islamic groups, including the Committee to Uphold Islamic Sharia, for which he acted as a lawyer.[2]
Though human rights activist Bambang Widjojanto was considered the favourite for the KPK chair, the House of Representatives ultimately selected Abraham over both Bambang and the incumbent Muhammad Busyro Muqoddas.[1] Abraham received a total of 43 votes, out of the 56 possible, with Busyro receiving five, Bambang four, Zulkairnain three, and Adnan Pandu Praja one vote. At the time of his election, Abraham was the youngest ever head of the KPK.[6] Abraham said that he would work to improve the country's witness protection programme, improve cooperation between law enforcement agencies, and take steps to prevent – rather than merely react to – corruption.[7]
Some anti-corruption activists expressed disappointment in the decision, stating that Abraham had been selected to please political parties rather than to combat graft.[1] Choky Ramadhan, a member of the Indonesian Judicial Watch Society, suggested that some candidates may not have been chosen as the political parties feared further attention would be paid to money laundering cases involving the parties. Tama Satrya Langkun, of the Indonesia Corruption Watch, noted that Abraham's career was sparse compared to that of the other candidates.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c "House's KPK picks 'politically motivated'". The Jakarta Post. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Profile of KPK chairman-elect Abraham Samad". The Jakarta Post. 2 December 2011. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Abraham Samad" (in Indonesian). Corruption Eradication Commission. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ "Tanpa pacaran, Abraham Samad langsung nikahi Indriana". 10 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Abraham Samad, Ketua KPK yang Dulu Suka Berkelahi" [Abraham Sahad, the Head of the KPK who Liked to Fight]. Kompas (in Indonesian). 3 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ "Abraham Samad, Lantang dan Berani" [Abraham Sahad, Strong and Brave]. Kompas (in Indonesian). 2 December 2011. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ Sihite, Ezra (2 December 2011). "New KPK Leader, Deputies Named". Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ Haryanto, Ulma; Amelia, Rizky; Sihite, Ezra (3 December 2011). "Abraham Chosen As KPK Chair". Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2012.