The Story of Indonesia's First Attorney General Who Nearly Lost His Life Uncovering Corruption
Uncovering major alleged corruption in 1959 nearly cost the first Attorney General of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Gatot Tarunamihardja, his life. Amidst investigations involving high-ranking officials of a state institution, he became a target of terror and an assassination attempt.
Gatot served as the first Attorney General of Indonesia from August to October 1945, before being reappointed by President Soekarno to lead the Prosecutor’s Office from April to September 1959. According to researcher Daniel S. Lev in “The Politics of Judicial Development in Indonesia” (1965), Gatot was a highly respected law enforcer known for his profound knowledge and integrity. Driven by this reputation, he was determined to eradicate corruption practices that were perceived to be deeply rooted in various state institutions at the time.
One of his primary focuses was alleged corruption within a national security and defence institution. The case involved several high-ranking officials of said institution, drawing significant public attention and widespread community support for a thorough investigation. During the investigation, Gatot faced resistance from high-ranking officials within the agency, yet he refused to back down, even collaborating with the police to strengthen the probe. “To better continue the investigation, Gatot demanded special authority over the police,” noted Daniel S. Lev.
However, the opposition against Gatot intensified. In addition to facing various pressures, he was repeatedly targeted by intimidation from parties disturbed by his investigations. Testimony regarding this terror was revealed by Abdul Rachmat Nasution, father of lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution. According to Buyung, his father recounted how Gatot was the victim of an assassination attempt: “He was attempted to be killed by being run over in the early hours of the morning, resulting in a severed leg,” he said.
According to Buyung, this occurred because “Gatlant Tarunamihardja was simply too brave,” as he truly intended to cleanse the nation of corrupt practices. The pressure on Gatot reached its peak on 10 September 1959, when he was suddenly arrested and detained under orders from the Central War Authority. The newspaper Duta Masjarakat (14 September 1959) reported, “Attorney General Mr. Gatot Tarunamihardja was detained on 10 September by order of the Central War Authority on charges of attempting to defame the reputation and prestige of agency leadership.”
Furthermore, the detention was justified by claims that Gatot’s actions threatened national order. According to reports in Algemeen Handelsblad (14 September 1959), investigators claimed to have found evidence that the Attorney General was involved in a conspiracy to build a secret network within state apparatuses. “From preliminary examinations, there are indications of efforts to organise a dark network within state apparatuses, violating hierarchy and organisation, which could lead to dangerous disintegration,” the newspaper wrote.
Gatot denied all allegations. The case drew the personal attention of President Soekarno, who summoned Gatot and the opposing parties. The newspaper Duta Masyarakat (18 September 1959) revealed that during this meeting, Soekarno stated the matter would be resolved. Ten days later, Gatot was released, and those suspected of involvement in the corruption case were transferred. Although released from detention, Gatdo’s career as Attorney General ended; Soekarno dismissed him with honours and appointed Mr. Gunawan as his successor, leaving Gatdo’s efforts to uncover corruption unfinished.