Suspected corruptor's family cries for justice

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