Comment: RI needs death penalty for graft

Oct. 16, Online: Indonesia needs to follow China’s example and sentence officials convicted of corruption to death in order to stamp out massive graft in the country, a top judge said Saturday.
Indonesia’s current sentences for corruption are too soft and do nothing to deter corrupt officials, said Mahfud MD, the Constitutional Court chief justice.
Officials “are sentenced to only three to four years in jail, which is lighter than sentences given to petty criminals,” Mahfud said.
He advocated the use of a provision in Indonesia’s Anticorruption Law that allows judges to sentence convicts to death.
It has never been used.

Your comments:

So the title of the article is wrong — Indonesia has the death penalty, but not the will to use it?
Bill
Jakarta

While many of these corrupt monsters deserve the death sentence, surely what is needed first is an honest judiciary.
Didi
Bandung

The ultimate punishment may indeed be required to stop corruption as the present punishment under the penal code is not an adequate deterrent to stop a crime that scares much needed investment away, is the main reason for the nationwide infrastructure crises and ultimately severely affects the millions of poor in our country by denying them basic services.
However, the political, legal and law enforcement establishment requires a complete change in mindset before any legal penalties will work. As is, money still determines guild and punishment.
Raja Rote
Baa, East Nusa Tenggara

The death sentence is too quick a punishment. Better sentencing to a lifetime in agony!
Derek
Singapore