Supremacy of law must be upheld

Recently we heard the news that Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib is suspected of being involved in bribery after he and his wife "received" money from two people who were being investigated by the Attorney General's Office.

Apart from determining whether the news is true or not, the controversy has caused other ramifications.

First, the credibility of Lippo Bank is declining. Second, the commitment of President B.J. Habibie, with the mandate of the People's Consultative Assembly to suppress corruption, collusion and nepotism, is in doubt. Third, the credibility of Ghalib himself is tested.

In responding to such a case, I put forward some questions: Why was this "money transfer" exposed at a time when Ghalib was still investigating the wealth of Soeharto in Austria and Switzerland?

Why also should the case be exposed three days before the polls started? Why did Lippo Bank fail to ensure the confidentiality of its client? Is there no other government official who gets money transferred as Ghalib did? And if there are, why are they not under investigation? What kind of game is being played and who is behind the game? Is it the new game of Ghalib? Do we remember how he treated Amien Rais during their dialog recently?

Is it a pure legal issue or political issue or both? To answer these questions, we must reveal whatever lies behind the exposure of the case. But this is a hard task indeed.

After all, the supremacy of law must be upheld.

ZUL ASRIL

Jakarta