Ugly face of the law

Ugly face of the law

From Jurnal Indonesia

The acquittal of Djoko S. Tjandra is a reflection of the ugly face of the law. Law that does not side with justice has been presented to us in a vulgar manner. The law takes sides with "powerful and influential" people. Business tycoons, magnates and barons -- in short those with huge amounts of money -- can buy the law.

Who was not annoyed to learn of the acquittal of Djoko S. Tjandra in the case involving the Bank Bali scam, which incurred Rp 904 billion in losses? Perhaps only his attorneys are very happy with his acquittal. Where is justice for the people, then?

Now try to compare this with the street justice a number of criminals have been subjected to. Groups of ordinary people no longer hesitate to mob petty criminals. Some people have even burned criminals to death. In such street justice cases, the victims were yet to go through a legal process to prove their guilt. On the other hand, during a court proceeding, the masses kept quiet to see a bigwig suspect of corruption, collusion and nepotism involved in siphoning off of state funds worth hundreds of billions of rupiah. So where is justice? The suspect should not have gotten off so lightly.

Anyway, this appears to be the law in Indonesia. Many people have begun to doubt whether the law will ever be upheld.

SUGIONO

Jakarta