Suspected corruptor's family cries for justice

Ocang Juwarna and his family had traveled all the way from Bandung to seek justice from the Supreme Court over alleged fraud committed by prosecutors there, but only became further embroiled on Friday in judicial inconsistency.

The family of ten, who camped out on the front yard of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institution (LBH Jakarta) office in Menteng and strung up banners in protest, said two prosecutors of the Bandung Prosecutor's Office asked for Rp 25 million (US$2,900) to bail Ocang's son, Setia. A subdistrict chief, Setia was accused of misusing the government's cheap rice program fund.

"We gave them the money, but they did not release my son," Ocang told reporters, and said the family planned to go to the Supreme Court on Monday.

Two intelligence officers with the Central Jakarta Prosecutor's Office, along with three policemen, came to the LBH Jakarta office and seemed, at first, to be all ears to the family's woes.

Instead, intelligence officer Firdaus Dewilmar said, "We're here to seize the banners you have, which are deemed an insult to all prosecutors." The officers then proceeded to tear down the banners bearing accusations against the corrupt prosecutors, ignoring the crying children of the family.

In the evening, the family's defense lawyer Ramadhaniel Daulay, who had accompanied the family, was taken by police for questioning on who made the banners. -- JP