Editorial: Slow progress, but sure

As promised a day earlier, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Abraham Samad announced progress Friday in the lengthy investigation into alleged corruption surrounding the construction of an athletes’ village for the 2011 SEA Games in Palembang, South Sumatra. The anticorruption body chief named Democratic Party (PD) lawmaker Angelina Sondakh a suspect in the corruption case.

Beauty pageant-turned politician Angelina is the fifth person to face prosecution in connection with the high-profile case after Mohammad El Idris of PT Duta Graha Indah, the company that won the construction project bid; Wafid Muhammad, secretary to the Youth and Sports Ministry; and Mindo Rosalina Manulang, former business confidante of the man at the center of the graft case, Muhammad Nazaruddin, who is the former PD treasurer. Idris, Wafid and Mindo have been declared guilty and have been convicted.

Along with being declared a suspect, the KPK asked the Law and Human Rights Ministry on Friday to impose an overseas travel ban on Angelina and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) legislator I Wayan Koster, who has also been implicated in the case, but has not yet been named a suspect.

The announcement of Angelina’s legal status on Friday has thus wiped away doubt among the general public over the seriousness and capability of law enforcement authorities, particularly the KPK, which has been thorough in its efforts to uncover the details of the case. What was even more promising was a statement made by Abraham himself, who boasted that he would uphold the noble principle of “equality before the law” and would therefore prosecute whoever was involved in the case, whether they are top government officials, businessmen or chairmen of political parties.

Abraham did not specifically mention names, but it is widely believed that he was among others referring to Anas Urbaningrum, the PD chairman, whose alleged role in the case has been repeatedly voiced by Nazaruddin and Mindo, both before and during their trials. Other PD politicians implicated include Andi Mallarangeng, Mirwan Amir and Sutan Bhatoegana, who all have denied their involvement in the case, which has quickly eroded their party’s approval rating.

It is true that it has taken almost a year for the anticorruption commission to make up its mind and come clear in its investigation into the corruption case. For the sake of truly upholding justice, however, the commission’s slow motion should not be an issue anymore.

As Abraham has proven good on some of his promises, the general public is eagerly awaiting his next bold move in proceeding with the case.