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.