Too light a punishment

The Bank Bali scandal is still being investigated and in this respect, the government does not seem to be making a serious effort to settle this case once and for all in a just and transparent manner. On a smaller scale, this case will be paralleled by a case of looting of customers' premium totaling Rp 410 billion from the Military and Police Insurance (ASABRI), alleged to have involved a high-ranking army officer (Bisnis Indonesia, Aug. 19, 1999).

Article 372 and article 374 of the Criminal Code stipulate that the maximum punishment to be meted out in a case like this is five years in prison. It is not surprising, therefore, that corruption is rampant because the punishment is very light and is incompatible with the seriousness of the offense, and, of course, incompatible with the losses and sufferings that the owners of the money (the people) have to sustain. One gets the impression that the law takes the side of corruptors.

We believe in Pancasila and do not want to violate human rights but I think capital punishment is suitable for those involved in corruption cases (like in Vietnam and China) in order to discourage newcomers in this crime. We may, for example, banish those involved in corruption to Nusa Kambangan or other remote islands and punish the perpetrators with a life sentence. Or, with regard to a certain amount of money, capital punishment will be meted out. Unless serious and heavy punishment is effected, more and more people will be encouraged to involve themselves in corruption.

Allow me to urge our law enforcers that they should replace the articles in the Criminal Code related to corruption cases so that anyone will think twice before deciding to involve themselves in corruption. In this way, we can remove slowly but surely the corrupt mentality.

As for reporters, I would like to see them continue covering the developments of corruption cases, particularly the ASABRI case, to prevent these cases from being shelved.

H. WISDARMANTO GS

Jakarta