What is behind the Texmaco case?

What is behind the Texmaco case?

From Warta Kota

I am really indignant at the performance of the Attorney General's Office. It is highly incredible that since Soeharto's downfall there has been not one criminal in the economic field who has been brought to court. The public has all along been given news of the "progress" of the investigation of businessmen A, B and so on. The indignation grew when Attorney General Marzuki Darusman also was unable to send a case to court.

I felt increasingly irritated at the decision of the Attorney General's Office to discontinue the investigation of the Texmaco case by virtue of a letter dated May 16, 2000 ordering the cessation of the investigation of Marimutu Sinivasan, president director of the Texmaco group, suspected of corruption.

The Texmaco case is the first big case in the Gus Dur government. It was former state minister of investment and state enterprises development Laksamana Sukardi who opened the case.

For a long time nothing was heard about the investigation. Then, Sukardi was dismissed by Gus Dur who said the minister could not cooperate with other ministers. He also accused the minister of collusive, corruptive and nepotistic practices. On the other hand Laksamana Sukardi once said that he suspected his discharge was related to the Texmaco case. Then, we were informed that the Texmaco case was closed because no losses for the state had been found.

People are thinking (the decision was made) because it was a big case, both financially and politically. Did Laksamana Sukardi take arbitrary steps in the Texmaco case when he was minister? Why?

If the minister had proof that was confirmed by the Attorney General's Office by making Sinivasan a "suspect", (then why) now has the Attorney General's Office stopped the investigation? Is it not strange?

What is the meaning of Laksamana Sukardi's statement that he was dismissed on account of the Texmaco case?

Honestly I become more and more annoyed by these realities. I hope that the public's common sense is not looked down upon in such a way as to cause it to suffer to such a great extent. There is already too much suffering around.

FELIX SANDI

Jakarta