May 8, p4

The first hearing in the trial of former Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry secretary-general Waryono Karno at the Jakarta Corruption Court revealed on Thursday that cash collected from rigging a series of procurement projects at the ministry partly ended up in the hands of individuals affiliated with former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono'€™s State Palace.

Thursday'€™s hearing saw Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors indict Waryono for corruption, accusing him of embezzling a total of Rp 11 billion (US$835,872) of dirty money between 2011 and 2012 in his capacity as secretary-general when the ministry was led by Jero Wacik, one of Yudhoyono'€™s right-hand men.

Your comments:

An annual due diligence audit by a reputable third party would prevent all of this corruption.

Brien

A few sacrificial lambs are not going to make a huge difference to the corruption plaguing Indonesia when these thieves will probably only receive the usual slap on the wrist.

Any real hope for change and an all-out war against public theft and dishonesty were pretty much dashed with the castration of the KPK. Sadly Indonesia, you have made your bed and now you must lie in it.

May Ling

If all corrupt people in Indonesia were placed in prison today, no one would be left outside.

Seamul Gilhooley

Doesn'€™t all this just serve to reinforce the reason why the KPK is so vital to Indonesia and its future?

It is a crystal clear example of what damage President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo has inflicted on Indonesia by failing to give the KPK his full support.

Terry MaSee

Indonesia has just one problem: corruption. Get rid of it and everything will fall neatly into place. Even the corrupt minds will not attempt to stand for elections because there'€™s no money in it.

Legislation and punishment must change to make it simply not worth it to try and steal money from the nation.

Pauloh

The reason why all parties and associated individuals (without exception) vehemently try again and again and again to diminish the power of the KPK since it is the only institution in Indonesia dedicated to ridding this country of corruption, regardless of status or political and personal affiliation.

As you already mentioned '€” Jokowi made a huge blunder in denying his support to the KPK '€” most probably due to political pressure from influential members of his coalition.

Norris

Now Indonesia can see why all those in the system sharing their loot want Abraham Samad and colleagues heads
delivered.

Jokowi is responsible for helping kill the KPK and we will never ever forget nor forgive.

Malam

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