Special court to try graft cases
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid fired another shot in the battle against corruption on Wednesday, approving the establishment of a special court to try graft cases.
The President gave the nod to the establishment of the court, which will be made up of ad hoc judges and prosecutors, during a meeting at the presidential palace with the head of the Joint Investigative Team to Eradicate Corruption, Adi Andojo Sutjipto. Two other members of the team, HS Dillon and Krisantono, also attended the meeting.
Andojo said the President also agreed to issue a government regulation in lieu of the existing laws, which contain loopholes that hamper the fight against corruption, Antara reported.
"Extraordinary measures" such as the establishment of the special court and the issuance of the government regulation are needed in the effort to eradicate corruption, because the current condition is "extraordinary", Andojo said.
He also said there should be the political will to state that the country was in a state of emergency in the battle against corruption.
The team, which was established seven months ago, has identified laws and regulations that contain loopholes that are stumbling blocks to the effort to wipe out corruption.
Corruption in the country has become endemic, boring so deep into the nation's life that it has become an organized crime, Andojo said.
Therefore, he believes "extraordinary" measures are needed to battle corruption.
Dillon said the joint investigative team was hampered in its work because of the lack of powers given in to carry out its duties.
"We suggested the team either be disbanded or empowered through the issuance of a government regulation in lieu of law," he said.
Last year, the team revealed that several Supreme Court justices were allegedly involved in bribery. The South Jakarta District Court ruled that the team did not have the authority to prosecute the cases.
The team, however, has refused to back down, and plans to begin submitting dossiers on alleged bribery cases involving judges to the district courts concerned later this month. This time, though, it will submit the dossiers through public prosecutors' offices.
Wealth audit
Separately, the chairman of the State Official Wealth Audit Commission, Yusuf Syakir, said President Abdurrahman had agreed to complete forms declaring his family's wealth, and would return the forms within one month.
The commission has given similar forms to Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tanjung.
Syakir said all state officials must complete the forms honestly, or face legal penalties and dismissal from office.
State officials who must complete the forms include directors of state enterprises, judges and court clerks, high-ranking military officers, governors, mayors, regents, ministers and other first-echelon government officials.
"Copies of any ownership documents should be attached," he said, adding that all forms should be returned within one month of receiving them.
The officials also must declare the wealth of members of their family, including their siblings and in-laws. Stocks, savings accounts and movable and nonmovable assets, including gold, jewelry and artwork, must be reported.
Yusuf also said the commission was established on Sept. 2, 2000, and the members installed on Jan. 11, 2001, but so far the commission members had not received any salaries. (sim)