Courting bribery

From Sinar Pagi

The General Attorney has denied that there is some kind of a `mafia' in the court rooms in this country.

His statement was aimed at thwarting the widely publicized issue of bribery among district attorneys and judges in the recent tax restitution trial in Surabaya.

The Mafia is a gangster organization from Sicily island, Italy, which extorts money, sometimes by killing people, and controls its territory with intimidation and bribery of public officials.

If this is what is meant by the Attorney General then I could agree because what the above judges and attorneys did was not as bad as that of a gangster.

Power abuse is not only committed by those working in legal affairs but also by those working in other departments of the government. Perhaps, one of the causes of such a malpractice is low salaries.

Indeed, only those who are spiritually strong and loyal to the government can put up with money temptation.

But although judges and attorneys's tasks are risky, they should understand that court is the last fortress for justice seekers, so a judgeship should not treated as an opportunity to amass wealth.

DELLANI DJAELANI

Jakarta