Megawati regrets corruption acquittals

Megawati regrets corruption acquittals

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri expressed her
concern on Wednesday over the country's legal system, which has
repeatedly exonerated alleged corruptors.

Speaking to members of the Indonesian Indigenous
Entrepreneurs' Association (HIPPI) on Wednesday, Megawati said
that such verdicts had insulted the public's sense of justice.

"Even if the evidence is damning and a lower court convicted
the defendant, the Supreme Court later acquits him," HIPPI
secretary-general Rainal Rais said quoting the President.

He further said that the President had called on the judiciary
to support the government in fighting corruption, especially as
regards verdicts.

Despite her statement, Megawati has decided not to dismiss
Attorney General M.A. Rachman, who was alleged to have concealed
his true wealth, and has been slow in responding to the
Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency's controversial proposal to
drop all possible criminal charges against recalcitrant debtors
who misused state bail-out funds at the beginning of the
financial crisis five years ago. --JP