Editorial: Prosecute the prosecutors

Wed, 06/18/2008 10:44 AM  |  Opinion

What can we expect from senior law enforcers who continue to lie ever so blatantly to an increasingly skeptical public? And what can we expect from an attorney general who shows no remorse for his failure to stop flagrant abuses of power by his very own subordinates?

To make matters worse, the attorney general has even tried to distance himself from the matter, saying he knew nothing about a high-profile corruption case and therefore could not be held responsible for the crimes allegedly committed by his deputies at the Attorney General's Office (AGO).

The Oscar-worthy acting of the three prosecutors in question -- former deputy attorney general for special crimes Kemas Yahya Rahman, deputy attorney general for state administrative crimes Untung Udji Santoso and state prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan -- would fool even the most sophisticated of lie detectors.

There was no trace of regret or fear in their voices and facial expressions when asked by the media to explain their roles in a bribery case that has gripped the nation. Every day since last Wednesday, TV stations have continuously broadcast taped telephone conversations between businesswoman Artalyta Suryani and each of the three so-called prosecutors.

Many Indonesians were upset to see how Urip denied it was his own voice in one of the conversations, although Artalyta confirmed it was indeed him.

Artalyta faces graft charges after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) caught her giving Urip US$660,000. She handed over the money after the AGO cleared businessman Sjamsul Nursalim of corruption charges over the alleged embezzlement of Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support (BLBI) funds. Sjamsul was Artalyta's boss at the time, although she denies Sjamsul's involvement in the bribery scandal.

The AGO is supposed to be at the forefront in ridding Indonesia of its unenviable reputation as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. But the prosecutors' alleged involvement in the scandal has further mired the country's image.

It is very regrettable Attorney General Hendarman Supandji has taken the defensive, although he knows very well he is tarnishing his own reputation and the AGO's image by failing to take prompt and effective measures in punishing his subordinates. And it is only a matter of time before the public metes out its own social punishment to Hendarman for his inactions.

Some may raise the question: Is it ridiculous and baseless to assume Hendarman -- a career prosecutor who knew his subordinates very well -- could have done more to prevent them from ruining the government's anticorruption drive?

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has no other choice but to completely overhaul the AGO. Replacing senior prosecutors or even the attorney general himself will mean little if the AGO is not totally reformed. The President had previously appointed Abdul Rahman Saleh, a non-career prosecutor and an honest law activist, to the post. But Abdul Rahman failed to make significant progress, forcing the President to appoint a career prosecutor, Hendarman, in the vain hopes he could do more.

Hendarman has the right to stay in power as long as the President still wants him there, but he needs to remember he has little credibility left after this fiasco. As an attorney general, he can cite as many reasons as he likes to stay in his position, but the public will be ever more skeptical of him and the institution under his control -- unless he has the courage to take extreme measures.

Millions of Indonesians now believe the three prosecutors lied openly about their involvement. It is also widely held the taped conversations between Artalyta and the prosecutors will shed light on even more widespread abuse of power.

The President cannot afford to waste time dealing with the AGO. That is the attorney general's job, and the message Indonesia has for him is: Act quickly before you lose any more credibility, because your reputation is at stake.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.