Ombudsman to watch over law enforcement

Ombudsman to watch over law enforcement

JAKARTA (JP): The head of the National Ombudsman Commission,
Antonius Sujata, said on Friday he would prioritize the
supervision of law enforcement, including the provision of public
legal services in his newly appointed post.

Antonius told The Jakarta Post on Friday the recently
established body would first concentrate on overseeing the work
of the police, the prosecutors office and district courts in
Jakarta because most complaints derived from the capital.

"There are so many complaints from people that they often have
to bribe to win a case in the courts, or they have to pay to get
through the red tape if they report a case to the police,"
Antonius said.

According to Antonius, there were also many complaints of
irregularity at the prosecutors office.

He added that there continued to be recrimination about the
work of the police concerning such simple matters as obtaining a
drivers license.

People have to pay higher fees than the official rate, he
noted.

The ombudsman will convey the results of the investigation on
complaints it receives to the related state agencies for further
follow ups. The office will also closely cooperate with several
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Anton insisted.

"People want much better public services from our law
enforcers," said Antonius.

President Abdurrahman Wahid, through decree No. 44, dated
March 10, 2000, appointed Anton to head the new body.

Sunaryati Hartono, a professor of law at state Pajajaran
University in Bandung will serve as deputy.

Anton was former deputy attorney general of special crimes. He
was relieved of his post early last year while investigating the
alleged corruption case against former president Soeharto.

The ombudsman's office will also comprise of six members:
Bagir Manan, a professor of law at Pajajaran University; Teten
Masduki, the coordinator of Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW);
businesswoman Sri Urip; Surachman and lawyers Pradjoto and Masdar
Farid Masudi.

Most of the members of the new body have established a name
through their determination in uncovering bad cases of corruption
in the past year.

Teten's disclosure about Andi Ghalib's alleged graft cases led
to Ghalib's suspension as attorney general.

Pradjoto sparked an uproar last year when he disclosed the
Bank Bali scandal which allegedly involved several top aides of
then president B.J. Habibie's.

The scandal was regarded as a key factor which led to a
rejection of Habibie's presidential accountability speech in
October by the People's Consultative Assembly.

"The President will officially install us on Monday," said
Anton.

Another priority for Anton is to promote the new body to the
public and help prepare a bill which would form the legal basis
for the work of the ombudsman.

"The establishment of this new ombudsman is only based on a
presidential decree, in the future it will be strengthened by a
special law," said Anton.

According to the presidential decree, the ombudsman has the
authority to "make clarifications, monitor or investigate based
on public reports about state organizations, especially its
implementation by the government apparatus, including law
enforcement bodies during their public services."

It is also stipulated that the aims of the new body is to
create a conducive environment for the eradication of corruption,
collusion and nepotism, along with the protection of the rights
of the general public in receiving pubic services, justice and
better welfare.

The work of the ombudsman will be financed by the state
through the State Secretariat's budget.

The establishment of the ombudsman was one of President
Abdurrahman's initiatives to improve the work of a clean and
accountable government.

He recently also established a National Commission of Law,
which is chaired by J.E. Sahetapy and has proposed former state
prosecutor Baharuddin Lopa chair a commission to examine the
wealth of state officials.

Abdurrahman was also one of the first to suggest the
nomination of Benjamin Mangkoedilaga to the Supreme Court.

On Friday the President reiterated his intention to nominate
Benjamin.

"I do believe he is still the best person to create a clean
and strong Supreme Court," he said. (prb)