Prosecutors warned to be vigilant

Prosecutors warned to be vigilant

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The anticorruption drive in the country could turn into a real
war, prompting Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh to warn
prosecutors on Saturday to remain alert for possible threats.

Abdul Rahman made the statement following a fire that
destroyed the house of Bengkulu chief prosecutor Rusdi Taher on
Friday and a newspaper office in the town 24 hours later.

The inspector general at the Attorney General's Office, Zaidan
Asnawi, said during a visit to Bengkulu on Saturday that Rahman
had ordered prosecutors across the country to increase their
vigilance as they stepped up the campaign against corruption.

"This (fire) should cause concern among prosecutors, who must
remain vigilant for possible threats as they investigate and
prosecute corruption cases," said Zaidan, who flew to Bengkulu at
Abdul Rahman's request.

In November 2003, fire gutted the house of Jakarta prosecutor
Evi Kawit in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, killing her, two of her
grandchildren and three of their friends.

Last May, Ferry Silalahi, a prosecutor in the Central Sulawesi
capital of Palu who was investigating terrorism cases, was shot
dead in front of his house.

The fire in Bengkulu came just a day after President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono ordered all government officials to participate
in the nationwide drive against corruption.

Zaidan said it was possible the fire was connected to Rusdi's
investigations of corruption cases.

"The fire must be thoroughly investigated," Zaidan said.

Among the high-profile corruption cases being investigated by
the prosecutor's office in Bengkulu is one involving Bengkulu
Mayor Chalik Effendi and former Bengkulu administration official
Azhari, which allegedly caused a total of Rp 18 billion in state
losses, and another one involving 30 former councillors accused
of misusing the Bengkulu legislative budget to the tune of Rp 2
billion.

Also on Saturday, at about 2:30 a.m., unidentified assailants
threw a Molotov cocktail into the offices of Rakyat Bengkulu
daily, which frequently runs stories on graft in the province.

The attack resulted in a minor fire on the first floor of the
building, which employees were quickly able to extinguish.

Bengkulu Police chief Brig. Gen. Adang Syamsu Ratman
immediately ordered a security detail for prosecutor Rusdi
following the fire at his house.

Protection also will be given to some journalists and
anticorruption campaigners in the province, Adang said.

The officer called on journalists to defy the threats and
continue reporting on corruption in the province. He also pledged
his support for prosecutors investigating corruption cases.

"The fires will not deter us from continuing our
investigations and prosecution of corruption cases," said Adang.

In Jakarta, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is
moving to improve protection for all members of the commission,
including prosecutors and police officers on loan to the
commission.

"We expect to increase security measures in the near future,"
KPK deputy chairman Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas said. All KPK
members have been told to stay alert for possible threats.