Indonesian Official Dies Suddenly While Uncovering Major Corruption Cases

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - History records that Indonesia once lost an official who died suddenly while handling a number of major corruption cases. That figure was Baharuddin Lopa, the Attorney General known for his fearlessness in investigating cases involving businessmen and high-ranking state officials.

When President Abdurrahman Wahid appointed him as Attorney General in June 2001, Lopa was immediately faced with the enormous demand to cleanse Indonesia of corruption practices that had taken root since the New Order era. According to Suara Pembaruan (4 July 2001), from his first day in office, his desk was immediately piled high with investigation files on major corruption cases involving businessmen and high-ranking state officials.

The situation made Lopa realise that his actions would disturb many interests. “Too many people were afraid if I was appointed Attorney General, so it was logical that people would gang up to cut me down so I would not become Attorney General,” he revealed in the book Kejahatan Korupsi dan Penegakan Hukum (2001).

However, his struggle as Attorney General was very short-lived. On 2 July 2001, Lopa fell ill while attending the handover ceremony for the Indonesian Ambassador and performing umrah in Saudi Arabia. He experienced nausea, vomiting, and then lost consciousness. The next day, on 3 July 2001, Baharuddin Lopa passed away.

His death sparked various speculations at the time. However, the medical team stated that Lopa died from a heart attack triggered by work exhaustion. His passing was deeply mourned. President Abdurrahman Wahid was among the figures who wept over his death.

Lopa’s courage in fighting corruption did not emerge when he became Attorney General. That position was merely the pinnacle of his long career as a law enforcer known for being tough on corruptors and smugglers. Baharuddin Lopa began his career as a prosecutor in 1958 at the Kelas I Makassar District Prosecutor’s Office. From the start, he did not hesitate to take action against criminals to save state funds.

His career path was marked by various assignments in the regions. From South Sulawesi, he was once transferred to Aceh. According to a report by Kompas (17 April 1983), the transfer was allegedly because Lopa tried to arrest one of the regional office heads. However, Lopa did not question the news. For him, the most important thing was to keep working. During approximately 3.5 years of service in Tanah Rencong, he successfully uncovered various cases of timber and rice smuggling that caused state losses of billions of rupiah.

For him, wherever he was assigned, helping the people and upholding justice had to be done with all his might. This principle meant he was indiscriminate in confronting criminals, even though he had to face death threats. “If I am going to take action on something, I always hold on to the belief that my fate is in God’s hands. The important thing is that the truth must be upheld. That there are risks that might befall me, including murder, I have already surrendered to God,” he told Kompas (17 April 1983).