Letter: AGO, police and KPK

Fri, 03/28/2008 1:37 AM | Reader's Forum

I refer to an article titled "AGO, police and KPK to review major graft cases", (The Jakarta Post, p. 9).

It is heartening to note all three institutions are meeting to sort out the complex problem of investigating alleged high profile cases of corruption.

This supposes that all three institutions; the police, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK); are equally competent, transparent, accountable and deprived of the culture of impunity.

If we were to go by past records, the records of the police and the AGO are dismal. They have succumbed to pressure from vested parties and have contributed significantly to nurturing a culture of impunity.

The recent developments where some key members were attached to the Attorney General Office were found to be complicated. The police have yet to assert their identity as a civil organ, accountable to the public and capable of conducting proper investigations. They still need to shed their military outfit.

Given this poor record, it would be wiser for the KPK to act independently, conduct all its investigations and get the AGO to prosecute. If investigations are inadequate, the KPK can be coerced into conducting further investigations.

Since the clue to resolving cases of corruption is proper investigation by parties that have no interest at stake, it must be left to the KPK, which also needs to establish its credentials through thorough investigations leading to prosecution.
PHILIP SETUNGA
Jakarta

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