Pursuit of high-profile graft cases 'politically motivated'

Pursuit of high-profile graft cases 'politically motivated'

JAKARTA (JP): Legal experts on Tuesday charged that exertions
of the Attorney General's Office in pursuing high-profile
corruption cases in recent weeks were motivated by political
purposes rather than the pursuit of fair law enforcement.

In the past months, the Office has questioned many notable
figures, including former ministers, allegedly involved in
corruption cases. Some have immediately been named as suspects.

Among those named suspects were former minister of finance Ali
Wardhana, former minister of mines and energy Ida Bagus Sudjana
and Sudjana's predecessor Ginandjar Kartasasmita.

Former minister of trade and industry Mohamad "Bob" Hasan is
currently serving a six-year jail term in the maximum security
Nusa Kambangan prison island in Central Java.

According to Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) coordinator
Teten Masduki such measures were part of a political agenda
targeted at a certain political group.

"What a coincidence that it was mostly done after the first
memorandum," Teten told The Jakarta Post over the telephone,
referring to the House of Representatives memorandum of censure.

"People don't want to see how many cases are handled, but that
the cases are completed properly. In other words, quality is
better than quantity as people understand how limited the human
resources are," Teten remarked.

Noted lawyer Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara said that the
Attorney General's Office has no clear concept and strategy in
handling corruption cases.

"As the result, it only produces sporadic results. Many people
have been questioned but business tycoons who are obviously
connected with corruption cases are not arrested," he told the
Post.

Meanwhile, legal sociologist Satjipto Rahardjo said corruption
cases are an extraordinary crime and therefore need extraordinary
measures.

"In difficult situations like this, several procedures in
handling corruption cases that can hamper the investigation
should be relaxed," he said.

"After that, then we can go back to the 'traditional' way," he
added without elaborating.

The Attorney General's Office recorded some 1,040 corruption
cases investigated last year of which 256 have been completed.

As of Dec. 31, 290 cases had been brought to court of which a
verdict has been handed out on 79.31 percent of them.

Attorney General Marzuki Darusman recently revealed that state
losses due to corruption are estimated at around Rp 3.29 trillion
(US$329 million) of which only Rp 1.9 billion is believed can be
recouped.

Separately on Tuesday, Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung
questioned why the Attorney General's Office does not investigate
several business tycoons believed to be involved in corruption
cases.

He in particular named Marimutu Sinivasan, Prajogo Pangestu
and Syamsul Nursalim.

"Many are dissatisfied about this and question why there is no
action against those tycoons," he said, as quoted by Antara.

Akbar said he agreed with those who believed there is
discrimination in the detention case of fellow Golkar Party
colleague and former minister of mines and energy Ginandjar
Kartasasmita, who is also People's Consultative Assembly Deputy
Speaker.

Ginandjar is a suspect over a graft case involving state-owned
company Pertamina and oil company PT Ustraindo Petro Gas, which
allegedly resulted in $24.8 million in state losses.

The Attorney General's Office issued an arrest warrant on
Saturday but since Ginandjar is hospitalized, his detention has
been delayed.

As for the rumor about President Abdurrahman Wahid's plan to
replace Attorney General Marzuki Darusman, Akbar said that he
will not get involved in the matter as it is the President's
prerogative. (hdn)