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