T

he number of corruption cases in Central Java have increased over the years, with civil servants and legislators being the main perpetrators of the crime.

The Central Java Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism Investigation and Eradication Committee (KP2KKN) recorded 102 corruption cases in 2011. This number increased to 215 in 2012 and further rose to 222 cases in 2013.

'€œThe state suffered losses of Rp 381 billion (US$32 million) in 2012 and Rp 111 billion in 2013 from corruption. Cases were found in 35 of the province'€™s regencies and municipalities. The data that we were able to gather does not comprise the total number; this is only the tip of the iceberg as many cases have gone unnoticed,'€ KP2KKN secretary Eko Haryanto said in Semarang on Monday.

One hundred twenty-one civil servants, 47 legislators, a company director, 11 regents, 40 entrepreneurs, 24 village chiefs, 20 regional and state enterprise employees, a village administrative staffer, a university rector, four judges, two mass organization members and a university student were convicted for corruption in Central Java in 2013.

'€œThe methods being used to commit corruption include the abuse of power [100 cases], the procurement of goods and services [98 cases], fictitious activities [20 cases]and bribery [four cases],'€ said Eko.

Moreover, three incumbent regents are strongly believed to be involved in corruption. They are Rembang Regent M. Salim, suspected of misusing regency budget funds from 2006 and 2007 worth Rp 4.1 billion; Pati Regent Haryanto, who was involved in a land-swap scheme worth Rp 1 billion, and Sragen Regent Agus Fathurrahman, who is believed to have misappropriated Rp 1.1 billion in regency budget funds from 2003 to 2010.

Nine former mayors and regents are also believed to have committed corrupt practices, and their cases are being investigated by prosecutors.

According to Joko Prihatmoko, a political analyst at Semarang'€™s Wahid Hasyim University, the widespread number of corruption cases in Indonesia were the result of the application of the country'€™s democratic system, which was not accompanied by the development of a democratic culture.

'€œIndonesia is a democratic state with a feudalistic political culture. According to such a format, when law enforcement is weak, corruption explodes. Feudalism in a democratic culture can justify corruption at the central level, and this is imitated at lower levels. Even academics commit corruption to secure their positions. The country is being damaged,'€ Joko said.