Traps for embezzlers

Traps for embezzlers

From Kompas

Indonesia's economic downturn, with tens of millions of poor and unemployed people as well as the denudation of vast areas of forest, has resulted from corruption, among other things.

The late Soemitro Djojohadikusumo, Indonesia's most senior economist, once said that almost 30 percent of funds for national development vanished annually. Strangely, those involved in the embezzlement have never been punished.

The difficulty in arresting embezzlers is due to the absence of sufficient evidence. People are reluctant to report graft practices for fear of being sued for defamation, slander and character assassination. Even former minister Kwik Kian Gie recently had to apologize after revealing tax embezzlement due to lack of evidence.

The recent arrest of Mulyana W. Kusumah, reportedly trapped by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for alleged misappropriation of funds belonging the General Elections Commission, is controversial. This, however, may be the right method to catch embezzlers since other ways have failed.

During the New Order era, security chief Sudomo caught a customs official demanding illegal fees in a spot check, and minister Sumarlin under the guise of an ordinary man trapped another corrupt civil servant. The police now also act as buyers to capture drug traffickers.

As the setting of traps seems effective in catching perpetrators red handed, the KPK should therefore launch an all- out antigraft drive by devising various snares in order to net a lot of culprits and recover stolen money for the state treasury.

ALI AZAR U. Depok, West Java