Singgih predicts more sophisticated crimes ahead<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Singgih raised last week the
\npossibilities of more sophisticated, complex crimes happening in
\nthe year ahead.<\/p>\n
In a year-end press conference Friday, Singgih cited a number
\nof crimes, including money laundering, for law enforcers to watch
\nfor next year, Antara reported. During the briefing, Singgih
\nevaluated the trend of crimes occurring over the past year and
\npredicted the legal enforcement's outlook for the coming year.<\/p>\n
He said the difficulties of taking legal actions against money
\nlaunderers in Indonesia was due to the absence of adequate legal
\nmechanisms, compounded by rigid rules of confidentiality imposed
\nby banks.<\/p>\n
Speaking more specifically on Indonesia's major event -- the
\ngeneral election in May -- Singgih stressed the need for a smooth
\nprocess because the slightest offense could trigger major
\nupheavals, social unrest and criminal acts.<\/p>\n
Singgih, who is also the National Election Committee's
\nInspection Board chairman, said his office would give the
\nelection its highest priority in accordance with Presidential
\nDecree No. 99\/1996, issued on Christmas Eve, which introduces new
\nrules to ensure unrest-free procedures.<\/p>\n
Along with Government Regulation No. 74\/1996, the decree
\nstipulates election campaigning which will put more stress on
\ndialog and discussion and bans street rallies and convoys of
\nvehicles blamed for clashes and disturbances during previous
\nelections.<\/p>\n
Singgih said the headache that continues to plague
\nIndonesia's waters is illegal trawling by foreign fishing
\ncompanies. He promised that related authorities, especially the
\nNavy, will handle the matter thoroughly.<\/p>\n
Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes Yunan Sawidji said
\nthat the illegal trawlers usually operate under false fishing
\nlicenses, or use foreign boats made to look like domestic boats.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General Office reported this year 108 cases of
\nillegal trawling and 132 cases of special criminal cases, as
\nopposed to 326 cases last year. Among the special cases are
\ncorruption and subversion.<\/p>\n
Ban<\/p>\n
Also during the briefing, Singgih announced the ban, effective
\nsince November, on three books on the outlawed Indonesian
\nCommunist Party (PKI). The first is Bayang-bayang PKI (The Shadow
\nof PKI) by Togi Simanjuntak and Irwan Hasibuan.<\/p>\n
"The work is full of distortions," Singgih said, Antara
\nreported.<\/p>\n
The two other books are Partai Rakyat Demokratik, Menuju
\nDemokrasi Multi Partai Kerakyatan (The Democratic People's Party.
\nToward a Multiparty People's Democracy), which smacks of
\ncommunism, and Potret Negara Indonesia (Portrait of Indonesia) by
\nlabor activist Muchtar Pakpahan, who is currently standing trial
\nfor allegedly attempting to undermine the state ideology
\nPancasila and the government.<\/p>\n
Muchtar's is a subversive case and he could be sentenced with
\ndeath.<\/p>\n
Singgih said 50 people have been prevented from leaving the
\ncountry in the eight months to November of this year, reaching a
\ntotal of 462, while those denied entry in the same period
\ncomprise 26 people, giving a total of 177 people.<\/p>\n
Education programs on legal aspects have been offered in 925
\nvillages and information programs have been conducted 675 times
\nover the past year, he said.<\/p>\n
He said standard court cases handled by his office reached
\n31,976 this year in comparison to 56,000 for 1995. This year's
\nexpedited cases reached 1.6 million from last year's 1.4 million.<\/p>\n
For the seven months to October of this year, appeals to the
\nhigh courts had a sharp increase of 14,139 cases in comparison to
\nlast year's total of 4,132, he said.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's appeals to the Supreme Court also
\nexperienced a sharp increase, with a total of 17,217 cases in the
\nsame period of this year versus last year's 5,441.<\/p>\n
During the same period, Singgih's office managed to return Rp
\n203 billion (US$85 million) to state coffers.<\/p>\n
Regarding escapee bank swindler Eddy Tansil, a number of his
\nfactories, land, home and stocks have been channeled into the
\ndefrauded bank Bapindo and other syndicated banks for
\ncompensation, Singgih said.<\/p>\n
Head of Jakarta Provincial Prosecutor's Office Sidharta said
\nthe dossier on legislator Aberson Marle Sihaloho, who was
\nallegedly involved in the July 27 rioting, was to be submitted to
\ncourt on Dec. 27 (Friday), while the dossier on Catholic priest
\nFather Sandyawan Sumardi, who faces the same charge, has yet to
\nreach his office.<\/p>\n
Singgih said continued efforts at improving the quality of
\nhuman resources at his office are being made to meet the
\nprofessional standards expected of his office.<\/p>\n
Singgih said that out of 5,610 judges, 1,424 are following
\nadditional legal education and training, while 17 others are
\npursuing advanced legal degrees abroad. (01)<\/p>",
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