Thanks to Following Quranic Teachings, This Prosecutor is Feared by Corruptors

The steadfast adherence to Quranic teachings has made Baharuddin Lopa not merely known as a prosecutor, but a symbol of fear for corruptors. Armed with faith, courage, and integrity, Lopa emerges as an uncompromising law enforcer—impartial, unafraid of threats, and never backing down when confronting major crimes.

Lopa began his career as a prosecutor in 1958 at the Class I Makassar District Prosecutor’s Office. From the outset of his service, he was known for his toughness against criminals, especially in corruption and smuggling cases. In his view, the law is not just an administrative rule, but an instrument of justice that must be upheld to protect the people and safeguard state funds.

His career was marked by various assignments across regions. From South Sulawesi, he was once transferred far to Aceh. A Kompas report (17 April 1983) suggested that the transfer occurred because Lopa attempted to apprehend a regional office head. He never paid heed to such rumours. For him, a prosecutor’s duty is to work, not to deal with power gossip.

In the Land of the Crane, his reputation only grew stronger. Over approximately 3.5 years of duty, Lopa successfully uncovered various smuggling cases involving timber and rice that cost the state billions of rupiah. These crackdowns earned him respect from authorities while instilling fear in economic criminals.

Behind his firmness, Lopa always emphasised that his courage stemmed from religious teachings. He openly cited Surah An-Nisa verse 135 as his guiding principle in life. The verse commands Muslims to act justly and uphold justice, even against oneself and one’s family.

“If I am about to take action on something, I always hold that my fate is in God’s hands. The important thing is that truth must be upheld. If there are risks that might befall me, including murder, I have surrendered that to God,” Lopa told Kompas (17 April 1983).

This principle made him impartial in eradicating crime. He did not distinguish between small or large perpetrators, ordinary people or officials. All are equal before the law. It was this attitude that often led him to receive threats, including death threats. However, for Lopa, fear would only weaken justice.

In addition to religious values, Lopa also stressed that Indonesia is a state of law. According to him, the law must be enforced at any time and in any condition. If the last bastion of law enforcement crumbles, it is the people who will suffer, bearing injustice and the arbitrariness of power.

That courage and integrity continued to elevate his career until he was finally trusted to become Attorney General in June 2001. He was appointed by President Abdurrahman Wahid amid demands for sweeping reforms to cleanse Indonesia of corruption practices rooted in the New Order era.

According to Suara Pembaruan (4 July 2001), from his first day in office, Lopa’s desk was piled with investigation files on major corruption cases involving businessmen and high-ranking state officials. He worked tirelessly, from morning until late at night, without regard for who felt threatened.

In the book Corruption Crimes and Law Enforcement (2001), Lopa even admitted that many parties were afraid of his appointment as Attorney General.

“Too many people were afraid if I were appointed Attorney General, so it makes sense that people tried en masse to block me from becoming Attorney General,” he revealed.

However, his tenure at the peak of his career was very brief. On 2 July 2001, Lopa fell ill while attending the handover of the Indonesian Ambassador position and performing Umrah pilgrimage. He experienced nausea, vomiting, and then lost consciousness. The next day, 3 July 2001, Baharuddin Lopa passed away. Although speculation arose, doctors stated he died from a heart attack triggered by work fatigue.

Although he served only a month as Attorney General, Lopa’s legacy far exceeds his term. He is remembered not for his position, but for his moral courage and steadfast faith. The figure of a prosecutor who made the Quran his compass for justice, the law his weapon, and integrity his shield.