A most serious legal test case

The case involving the mismanagement of Bank Indonesia's liquidity support (BLBI) money (for troubled private banks) will be the final test case for the Attorney General's Office. If it dallies, it is certain to face serious problems. The recent acquittal of (Bank Bali scandal suspect) Joko Tjandra by the South Jakarta District Court, for example, prompted a reaction from the World Bank. The same thing is sure to happen in the BLBI case if the Attorney General's Office continues to trifle with it.

The problem, however, is that Indonesia is still highly dependent on the assistance of both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. If either of them should protest, it will be the Indonesian people who will suffer the consequences. Hope, however, exists because (Attorney General) Marzuki Darusman can be expected to be serious in performing his duties. Indonesians are tired of having to listen to jokes where Indonesia is the most corrupt country where corruptors are never found. The Attorney General's Office must put a stop to such jokes.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta