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SBY slammed for corruption comments
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is under fire for what lawmakers and experts said was an apparent attempt to interfere in the work of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
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President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is under fire for what lawmakers and experts said was an apparent attempt to interfere in the work of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
In a speech to participants of a national law convention here Tuesday, Yudhoyono said law enforcers should not "entrap" people.
"If a citizen breaks the law because of his or her ignorance, we are guilty as well. Worse, (we) let them be trapped instead of just reminding them," he said.
The President specifically told the KPK, the Supreme Audit Agency and the Attorney General's Office to avoid entrapping citizens by taking advantage of their ignorance of laws and regulations on corruption.
These agencies, he said, should prioritize preventive measures over legal action in dealing with corruption cases.
The statement has been widely interpreted as an attack by the President on the KPK's methods in investigating state officials and lawmakers suspected of corruption, which involve phone taps.
The latest state official arrested by the graft body was lawmaker Al Amin Nasution of the United Development Party (PPP).
He was arrested for allegedly taking a bribe from officials in relation to the conversion of a protected forest on Bintan Island in Riau Islands province.
Last year the KPK arrested Judicial Commission member Irawady Joenoes in the act of allegedly accepting a bribe in connection with a land procurement deal.
Legal expert Denny Indrayana from Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta said the President's comment could be interpreted as an effort to interfere in the work of the KPK.
"What the President said was counterproductive as it could be used as an excuse for corrupt officials and businesspeople to get away with their crimes," he said.
In reaction to the President's statement, the KPK said it was an independent body and would not accept interference by any outside party.
"The President's statement shouldn't have ended there," KPK chief Antasari said when visiting the studio of rock band Slank in Jakarta.
"It would be better if the statement went on to say: 'hey, you state officials, if you're going to manage the people's money, do it professionally and ethically, because the law will be enforced to those deviating from that mandate,'" he said.
"Right now the KPK is adding that statement to the President's," he said.
Antasari said everyone in the country must understand the law, especially state officials.
"It doesn't make sense that state official would not understand the law."
Another KPK member, Moch. Jasin, said the commission did not entrap people and always acted according to the law.
"We also actively educate people and officials at the regional level so all can understand the KPK's duty and authority," he said.
Deputy chairman of the House of Representatives' disciplinary council, Gayus Lumbuun, agreed it was inappropriate if the President was calling the KPK's recent arrests entrapment. (anw)
