Hero or devil?

Hero or devil?

From Bisnis Indonesia

The Chinese government recently passed the death sentence on
state officials proven guilty of corruption.

Here in Indonesia, efforts to eradicate corruption are just
bluff and empty promises. Corruptors are simply released and have
virtually never been properly brought to court. Some recipients
of huge, unknown grants are still at large.

During her visit to the United States, President Megawati
vowed that she would totally eradicate corruption, collusion and
nepotism, although she admitted that this was easier said than
done.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has said Indonesia's
law enforcement process is not sound. At present, he said, there
is confusion over the implementation of Law No.3/1971 and Law
No.21/1999, both relating to corruption issues, which means that
corruptors can escape easily.

Can corruptors play fines without anybody's secret assistance?
Some lawyers acting for a defendant tried at court for protesting
against fuel prices recently were not only physically hit but
were also dubbed traitors of the state. Strangely, lawyers
defending corruptors have never experienced this.

In this context, the government must issue a law determining
when a corruptor will be allowed to hire expensive lawyers and
when a government-appointed lawyer will be enough for him, as is
the case in minor offenses.

Otherwise, a defendant's lawyer can exploit legal loopholes
and can easily defend his wealthy client by bending the law to
the client's benefit.

TAUFIK KARMADI

Jakarta