Since its establishment exactly 81 years ago, the Indonesian Attorney\nGeneral\u2019s Office has produced many figures known for their bravery in\nlaw enforcement. One prominent figure in its history is Gatot\nTarunamihardja, the first Attorney General of the Republic of Indonesia,\nwho dared to investigate major corruption allegations and consequently\nfaced terror and nearly lost his life.<\/p>\n
Gatot first served as Attorney General from August to October 1945.\nYears later, President Soekarno reappointed him to lead the Adhyaksa\ncorps from April to September 1959.<\/p>\n
According to testimony by researcher Daniel S. Lev in \u2018The Politics\nof Judicial Development in Indonesia\u2019 (1965), Gatot was known as a\nhighly respected law enforcer due to his profound knowledge and\nintegrity.<\/p>\n
With this reputation, Gatot was determined to clean up corrupt\npractices that were perceived at the time to be deeply rooted in various\nstate institutions. One of the cases that drew his attention involved\nalleged corruption within a government agency.<\/p>\n
The case involved several high-ranking officials and became a public\nfocal point. The community provided support for the matter to be\ninvestigated thoroughly.<\/p>\n
However, Gatot\u2019s investigation did not proceed smoothly. He faced\nresistance from high-ranking officials implicated in the case.\nNevertheless, Gatot continued the investigation.<\/p>\n
To strengthen the process, he even collaborated with the police. This\nstep was taken to ensure that the investigation into the significant\ncase could proceed as effectively as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo better continue the investigation, Gatot demanded special\nauthority over the police,\u201d stated Daniel S. Lev in \u2018The Politics of\nJudicial Development in Indonesia\u2019 (1965).<\/p>\n
Gatot\u2019s stance increased the pressure upon him. He faced not only\nresistance from the parties under investigation but also\nintimidation.<\/p>\n
The terror even escalated to an attempted murder. Testimony regarding\nthis was revealed by Abdul Rachmat Nasution, the father of lawyer Adnan\nBuyung Nasution. According to Buyung, his father once recounted how\nGatot was the target of an assassination attempt.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was attempted to be killed by being run over in the early hours\nof the morning, resulting in a severed leg,\u201d said Buyung.<\/p>\n
According to Buyung, Gatot\u2019s courage in eradicating corruption forced\nhim to face such risks. However, the pressure reached its peak in\nSeptember 1959.<\/p>\n
On 10 September 1959, Gatot was suddenly arrested and detained by\norder of the Central War Authority.<\/p>\n
\u201cAttorney General Mr.\u00a0Gatot Tarunamihardja was detained on 10\nSeptember by order of the Central War Authority on allegations of\nattempting to damage the reputation and prestige of agency leaders,\u201d\nreported the Duta Masyarakat newspaper (14 September 1959).<\/p>\n
In addition to those allegations, Gatot\u2019s detention was also linked\nto claims that his actions had disturbed national order. In reporting by\nthe Algemeen Handelsblad (14 September 1959), investigators were said to\nhave found evidence pointing towards an attempt to build a secret\nnetwork within state apparatuses.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the preliminary examination, there are indications of efforts\nto organise a dark network within state apparatuses, violating all\nhierarchy and organisation, which could lead to dangerous\ndisintegration,\u201d wrote the newspaper.<\/p>\n
Gatot denied the accusations levelled against him, asserting that his\nactions were purely for the eradication of corruption. Eventually, the\nmatter drew the attention of President Soekarno.<\/p>\n
The President summoned Gatot, along with several of his adversaries,\nto discuss the issue. This meeting provided a turning point for Gatot,\nwho was still in detention at the time.<\/p>\n
The Duta Masyarakat newspaper (18 September 1959) revealed that after\nthe meeting, Soekarno stated the matter would be resolved. Shortly\nthereafter, approximately 10 days after his detention, Gatot was finally\nreleased. The parties suspected of involvement in the case were also\ntransferred.<\/p>\n
However, Gatot\u2019s release did not mean he returned to the position of\nAttorney General. His career as the head of the Adhyaksa corps ended\nafter Soekarno dismissed him with honours.<\/p>\n
As his successor, Soekarno appointed Mr.\u00a0Gunawan as Attorney General.\nWith the end of Gatot\u2019s tenure, his efforts to investigate major\ncorruption allegations were left unfinished.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/while-investigating-major-cases-this-attorney-general-faced-terror-and-attempted-murder-1788324880", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }