The case revolves around charges against National Search and Rescue Agency chief Henri Alfiandi and his colleague Afri Budi Cahyanto for their alleged involvement in an 88 billion rupiah bribery scandal. Both Alfiandi and Cahyanto are active members of the Indonesian Air Force.

The KPK's decision to charge the military officers has drawn criticism from the armed forces, who claim that the commission overstepped its jurisdiction. Consequently, the KPK apologized for the move and handed the cases to the military police, focusing on the civilian contractors suspected of providing bribe money.

This development has intensified calls for President Joko Widodo to refrain from appointing active military officers to non-military roles, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the legal processes within the armed forces.

Experts and activists have called for a cessation of the practice, questioning the military court's credibility in prosecuting corruption cases. The military chief has promised professionalism in investigating the bribery allegations, with the KPK assisting in the process.

Meanwhile, the appointment of Air Marshal Kusworo as the new Basarnas chief, a civilian government institution, further fuels debates about the military's presence in non-military posts.