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Fighting the 'ghost' within
Many behavioral experts estimate that around 95 percent of an organization’s characteristics (e.g. level of resistance or tolerance to corruption) are determined by its tacit knowledge.
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Disgraced: Tegal mayor Siti Masitha Soeparno (left) responds journalists' queries after she attended a questioning at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta on Aug.30. (Antara/Hafidz Mubarak)
T
he arrest of Tegal Mayor Siti Masitha in a sting operation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is yet another grim reminder of the fact that freedom from the “colonization” of corruption remains an unrealized vision for many Indonesians.
Siti was arrested for allegedly accepting bribes in relation to infrastructure projects and licensing in the Central Java city. She was also suspected of using the proceeds to fund her campaign for the 2018 local election. Several other individuals were also nabbed, including NasDem Party politician Amir Mirza Hutagalung.
In October last year, at the Central Java governor’s office in Semarang, the KPK in collaboration with the provincial government held a coordination meeting with all mayors and regents across the province to discuss various corruption-related issues. All the mayors and regents in attendance, including Siti, then signed a joint commitment on anti-corruption coordination and supervision.
Only less than two months later, however, KPK investigators arrested the regent of Klaten, Sri Hartini, in a sting operation.
Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo said the Tegal mayor’s arrest was like a slap to his face. He regretted that the arrest came despite a number of warnings in the form of sting operations that should have discouraged public officials from committing graft.
Apart from the arrests, the KPK has been working closely with local governments in coordinating and supervising corruption prevention through the Korsupgah program.
The program includes obtaining from the target regions comprehensive data and facts concerning various problems related to corruption and the most appropriate measures to cope with them.
