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