JP\/8\/speakup<\/p>\n
Despite the recent arrest of a suspect in the child kidnapping
\ncases, law experts and child activists are critical of the
\npolice's investigation. The experts suggest that police need to
\ntake tougher action and that the suspects should be punished
\naccording to the Criminal Code and Law No. 23\/2002 on Children's
\nProtection. The Jakarta Post talked with them.<\/p>\n
Purnianti, 56, is a criminologist of the University of
\nIndonesia. She lives in Depok with her husband and son:<\/p>\n
I think the police are not responding fast enough. If they act
\nlike this, of course the kidnappers will continue to try to get
\nmoney.<\/p>\n
Police should take tougher measures. They could ask private
\nsecurity officers to help them investigate, even if the costs are
\nhigh.<\/p>\n
I suggest the implementation of the Law on Children's
\nProtection (UUPA). When the victims are children, the Criminal
\nCode does not provide severe enough penalties.<\/p>\n
Under the UUPA, a suspect faces a maximum punishment of 15
\nyears in jail and a maximum fine of around Rp 300 million
\n(US$35,294).<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the public is not generally aware of UUPA and
\nmaybe the kidnappers operate without realizing the kind of
\npunishments that they could face.<\/p>\n
Actually, I think law enforcers are also ignorant of the UUPA.
\nIf the perpetrators are caught, the UUPA should be imposed
\nstrictly.<\/p>\n
Political parties and the mass media should campaign to
\nsupport the implementation of the Law.<\/p>\n
Topo Susanto, 33, is a law expert of the University of
\nIndonesia. He lives in Depok with his wife and three children:<\/p>\n
Many say that law enforcement in the country is poor and never
\nproperly implemented.<\/p>\n
A kidnapper could face a maximum sentence of 12 years in jail
\nwith an additional sentence of one third (or four years). That's
\n16 years in jail but a judge rarely gives the maximum sentence.<\/p>\n
It's not just the police but the court system. So what is it
\nthere for? All legal institutions should be responsible for
\ndealing with criminals.<\/p>\n
Worse still, the police do not seem to care about the cases.
\nIs this due to bribery in the system?<\/p>\n
We should look at other countries with efficient legal
\nsystems.<\/p>\n
Bambang Budi S., 36, is an activist from the Indonesian Child
\nWelfare Foundation in Central Jakarta. He lives in Cilandak,
\nSouth Jakarta, with his wife:<\/p>\n
Police still discriminate in criminal cases, the level of
\ntheir investigation depends on the response of the public. The
\nbigger the response, the more seriously the police work on the
\ncase.<\/p>\n
The Criminal Code should not be used to sentence the
\nkidnapping suspects as it doesn't take into account that the
\nvictims are children. The punishment is too lenient.<\/p>\n
The UUPA, if it is properly imposed, supports the rights of
\nthe children.<\/p>\n
But law enforcers remain ignorant about the law and its
\nimplementation. I guess the reason is that there is no campaign
\nto educate the public.<\/p>\n
If all law enforcers were serious in their implementation of
\nthe law then people would reconsider committing such crimes.<\/p>\n
In addition, I object to the media broadcasting programs about
\ncriminals on television. This surely has a bad impact and could
\ninspire criminals to use new methods.<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp8speakup-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }