Indonesian student dies in law-change protests

Yahoo – AFP, Denji Sari, September 26, 2019

The death appeared to mark the first fatality in days of street battles across
Indonesia (AFP Photo/STR)

An Indonesian student died Thursday as thousands hit the streets nationwide in a wave of opposition to a major overhaul of the country's criminal code and a bid to weaken its anti-corruption agency, police said.

The death appeared to mark the first fatality in days of street battles across the Southeast Asian country, which have left hundreds injured and sparked a call from Amnesty International to probe what it described as "massive police violence" against protesters.

The 21-year-old victim was rushed to hospital suffering from a chest wound and later died as riots erupted in Kendari city on Sulawesi island, where the local parliament was torched, authorities said.

But police denied playing a role in the death, amid social media claims that the engineering student was shot.

"There was an injured student among the crowd. He was taken to the hospital and declared dead as doctors tried to save him. He had a wound on his right chest, but I cannot confirm what kind of injury it was," Southeast Sulawesi police spokesman Harry Golden Hart told Metro TV.

Hundreds have been injured in the protests against a major overhaul of 

the country's criminal code (AFP Photo/Juni Kriswanto)

"None of our officers carried live bullets... or even rubber bullets," he added.

The unrest was sparked by a proposed bill that includes dozens of law changes -- from criminalising pre-marital sex and restricting sales of contraceptives, to making it illegal to insult the president.

There has also been a backlash against a separate bill that critics fear would dilute the powers of Indonesia's corruption-fighting agency -- known as the KPK -- including its ability to wire-tap graft suspects.

The demonstrations across the archipelago are among the biggest since mass street protests in 1998 brought down the three-decade Suharto dictatorship.

'Feedback'

Passage of the controversial changes has now been delayed.

The demonstrations across the archipelago are among the biggest since mass 

street protests in 1998 brought down the three-decade Suharto dictatorship

(AFP Photo/CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN)

And, on Thursday, President Joko Widodo appeared to backtrack on plans to press ahead with the anti-corruption agency law, saying he would consider revising it.

"There was a lot of feedback given to me" about the law, Widodo said during a televised press conference.

"Of course I'll consider (a revision) and after making a decision, I will announce it."

Earlier Thursday, officials said more than 500 students had been arrested after a night of street battles in downtown Jakarta between molotov-cocktail throwing protesters and riot police who shot tear gas into the crowds.

Meanwhile, a mass of students stormed and occupied the local parliament building in Sumatra's Padang city Wednesday.

Most of the Jakarta students were set free, but some were still being held after police found knives and other sharp weapons in their possession, police said.

Students have issued a list of demands including scrapping some of the 

criminal-code changes (AFP Photo/Bahauddin Raja BASO)

Students have issued a list of demands including scrapping some of the criminal-code changes, withdrawing troops from Indonesia's restive Papua region, and halting forest fires in Sumatra and Borneo that have unleashed toxic haze across Southeast Asia.

A vote on the criminal-code bill was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but Widodo has called for a delay in passing the controversial changes that could affect millions of Indonesians, including gay and heterosexual couples who might face jail for having sex outside wedlock, or having an affair.

Updating Indonesia's Dutch colonial-era criminal code has been debated for decades and appeared set to pass in 2018 before momentum fizzled out.

A renewed push this year, backed by Islamic groups, was met with a wave of criticism over what many saw as a draconian law that invaded the bedrooms of a nation with some 260 million people -- the fourth most populous on Earth.

Indonesia police fire tear gas at students protesting sex, graft laws

Yahoo – AFP, September 24, 2019

Protesters set fires and threw rocks at riot police in Makassar on Sulawesi
island to protest against a new criminal code law (AFP Photo/DAENG MANSUR)

Jakarta (AFP) - Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters outside Indonesia's parliament Tuesday as thousands demonstrated nationwide against a new criminal code that would, among other things, outlaw pre-marital sex and weaken the country's anti-graft agency.

Protesters covered their faces and scattered in all directions as chaos erupted in the centre of the sprawling capital, Jakarta.

Police also fired teargas at rock-throwing protesters in Makassar on Sulawesi island, while demonstrators broke down a barrier outside the governor's office in Semarang on Java island.

"(We) forcibly dispersed student because they were carrying out anarchist acts, damaging government property and throwing stones at police," said Dicky Sondani, a South Sulawesi police spokesman.

The police action came after flag- and placard-waving demonstrators gathered 

across the Southeast Asian archipelago (AFP Photo/ADEK BERRY)

The police action came after flag- and placard-waving demonstrators gathered across the Southeast Asian archipelago -- including in cultural capital Yogyakarta and holiday hotspot Bali -- for a second day in a row.

On Tuesday, lawmakers debated a wide-ranging legal overhaul including hundreds of new laws that would criminalise pre-marital sex, restrict sales of contraceptives, make it illegal to insult the president, and toughen the Muslim majority country's blasphemy laws.

"We want the bill which is being debated to be revised," said Jakarta university student Amel.

"The police were excessive teargassing us. We weren't being violent," he added.

A vote on the bill was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but President Joko Widodo last week called for a delay in passing the proposed changes after a public backlash.

Riot police used water cannon against protesters in Sulawesi (AFP Photo/
Andri SAPUTRA)

The mooted changes could affect millions of Indonesians, including gay and heterosexual couples who might face jail for having sex outside wedlock, or having an affair.

Widodo's call for a delay came as the Australian embassy in Jakarta issued a fresh travel advisory, warning that the legislation could put unmarried foreign tourists in the crosshairs.

Millions of tourists visit Bali and other beach destinations in the Southeast Asian nation.

Widodo this week stood firm on plans to pass a separate bill that critics fear would dilute the investigative powers of the corruption-fighting agency -- known as the KPK -- including its ability to wire-tap suspects.

The police action came after flag- and placard-waving demonstrators gathered 

across the Southeast Asian archipelago (AFP Photo/ADEK BERRY)

Updating Indonesia's criminal code, which dates back to the Dutch colonial era, has been debated for decades and appeared set to pass in 2018 before momentum fizzled out.

A renewed push this year, backed by conservative Islamic groups, was met with a wave of criticism over what many saw as a draconian law that invaded the bedrooms of a nation with some 260 million people -- the fourth most populous on Earth.

An online petition calling for the bill to be scrapped garnered half a million signatures, while hundreds of thousands took to social media to vent their frustration.

We Built a Strong Case Against Setya Novanto: KPK

Jakarta Globe, Alin Almanar, December 11, 2017

Setya Novanto has been charged with embezzling Rp 574 billion ($42 million).
(Antara Photo/Aprillio Akbar)

Jakarta. Antigraft officials said investigators had built a strong case against Setya Novanto, as they countered arguments by expert witnesses during a hearing on Monday (11/12).

Setya has filed again a pretrial motion with the South Jakarta District Court to clear him as a graft suspect. The same court ruled in late September that naming Setya as a suspect in July was "procedurally flawed" and the charges were invalid.

Three witnesses brought by Setya's lawyers to the court on Monday questioned the validity of evidence against him.

One of the witnesses, Mudzakir, a criminal law expert at the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) in Yogyakarta, said the evidence against the former House of Representatives speaker was invalidated by the ruling.

According to him, the move to charge Setya again in late October was therefore based on "outdated evidence."

"It's similar to opening again an investigation that has been halted. If there's no new evidence, it can't be reopened," he said.

But a Constitutional Court ruling issued this year, cited by antigraft officials during the hearing, allows investigators to rely on evidence that was used against a suspect who has won a pretrial motion.

"A pretrial verdict shouldn't hamper investigators' efforts to handle a case," said Evi Laila Kholis, a member of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) legal bureau.

The evidence against Setya had also been "complemented," KPK officials said.

In the next days, the KPK is going to bring five witnesses to the South Jakarta District Court, whose ruling is expected on Thursday.

Setya has been charged with embezzling Rp 574 billion ($42 million) from the Rp 5.9 trillion procurement of national electronic identity cards (e-KTP) project. He can face 20 years in jail, if found guilty.

The graft case resulted in Rp 2.3 trillion state losses.

Graft Suspect Setya Novanto Resigns as House Speaker https://t.co/AuTC7ophrj pic.twitter.com/rZnWcR8rtR

— The Jakarta Globe (@thejakartaglobe) December 11, 2017

Related Article:

Setya Novanto Hospitalized After Car Crash Amid Arrest Warrant in e-KTP Case

Setya Novanto Hospitalized After Car Crash Amid Arrest Warrant in e-KTP Case

JakartaGlobe, Telly Nathalia, November 16, 2017

House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto has been hospitalized following
 a solo car crash on Thursday night (16/11), mere hours after making his first public
statement regarding a warrant for his arrest in the e-KTP corruption case. (Antara Photo/
Sigid Kurniawan)

Jakarta. House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto has been hospitalized following a solo car crash on Thursday night (16/11), mere hours after making his first public statement regarding a warrant for his arrest in the so-called e-KTP corruption case.

Novanto has repeatedly failed to show up for questioning by antigraft investigators as a suspect in the case involving massive graft in the procurement of electronic national identity cards, or e-KTP. The project was mothballed in October 2015 following a series of problems, including a late start, technical glitches and officials demanding payments from residents to provide the ostensibly free service.

Novanto's lawyer Fredrich Yunadi confirmed that his client was admitted to Permata Hijau Hospital in South Jakarta. He said Novanto was unconscious and that he suffered from high blood pressure, in addition to a pre-existing heart condition.

"I received a call to meet him at the Metro TV studios. On my way [to Metro TV], his aide informed me that they had just been involved in an accident ... he [Novanto] was injured and immediately lost consciousness," Fredrich said.

The lawyer explained that Novanto intended to comply with a summons by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prior to the accident, but that this unfortunately prevented his client from doing so.

Fredrich said four internists are observing Novanto due to his "serious" medical condition, which will require his client undergoing a computed tomography, or MRI, test.

A few hours before the accident, Metro TV conducted a telephonic interview with the Golkar Party chairman, who denied allegations that he was trying to avoid questioning in the case.

"I have to respect the legal process I am facing now, and I always respect the process. I never fail [to comply with KPK summonses], because each of the three times I was summoned as a witness in the case against Anang, I submitted written statements. Today is my fourth summons," Novanto said, referring to Anang Sudihardjo, president director of Quadra Solution, one of the companies in a consortium that won a contract to procure the national identity cards for the government.

"This is my first summons as a suspect. I am surprised, because just after the first summons, while I was studying the legal matters for today, there was a plan to arrest me," he continued.

In early November, the KPK named Novanto a suspect in the case for a second time, based on allegations that he siphoned off Rp 574 billion ($42 million) from the Rp 5.9 trillion e-KTP project, which resulted in Rp 2.3 trillion in state losses.

"I never received money; it can be checked with the BPK [State Audit Agency] or the BPKP [State Finance and Development Surveillance Committee]," Novanto stressed.

He explained that he filed for a judicial review by the Constitutional Court of the 2002 Law on the KPK, including an article that allows the antigraft agency to question a suspect by disregarding procedures stipulated in other laws. Another article allows the KPK to request the immigration office to impose a travel ban on a graft suspect.

"I also took up legal protection measures with the president and other state agencies," he said, admitting that he reported KPK commissioners Agus Rahardjo and Saut Situmorang to the police for abuse of authority and using false documents to bar him from leaving the country.

Novanto's whereabouts were unknown when antigraft investigators showed up at his house in South Jakarta on Wednesday night. This prompted the KPK to warn the politician that he would be declared a fugitive from justice if he did not surrender himself to investigators.

Police said on Wednesday that they would assist the KPK in apprehending Novanto if requested to do so.

Related Articles:

Top Indonesian politician embroiled in huge corruption case goes missing

Golkar to Find New Chairman to Replace Disgraced Setya Novanto https://t.co/2fXyQChzwj pic.twitter.com/Z1d3IdvgzW

— The Jakarta Globe (@thejakartaglobe) November 20, 2017

'We Will Never Stop Fight Against Corruption': Jokowi

Jakarta Globe, Carlos KY Paath & Eko Prasetyo, December 01, 2016

President Joko Widodo at the National Conference on Eradicating Corruption
in Jakarta on Thursday (01/12). (Antara Photo/Yudhi Mahatma)

Jakarta. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said one of his administration's main goals is to fight corruption and highlighted the hundreds of high-profile figures who have been given prison sentences for corruption as proof during a speech at the National Conference in Corruption Eradication, or KNPK 2016, in Jakarta on Thursday (01/12).

"Every government official, including me, is committed to the fight against corruption. We will never stop," Jokowi said.

According to the president, 122 House of Representatives and Regional Legislative Council members, 25 ministers or heads of institutions, four ambassadors, seven commissioners, 17 governors, 51 mayors and district heads, 130 state officials and 14 judges have been sent to prison during his administration.

"We should give ourselves a pat on the back. The fewer people go to prison, the more successful we are at fighting corruption," Jokowi told the audience at the conference.

"We want to keep improving the public service and make our system of government more effective. But we have three big problems: corruption, bureaucratic inefficiency and lack of infrastructure. We have to try to solve all of these at the same time," he added.

Jokowi said so far corruptors are still defying the law, though many of them had been arrested and imprisoned.

"Corruption is still a big problem. The situation is desperate but we shouldn't give up. Everyone has to get involved: government officials, lawmakers, law enforcers, the private sector and the public."

Indonesia Needs More Tax Reforms While Improving Public Spending, Governance: OECD

Jakarta Globe, Ratri M. Siniwi, October 24, 2016

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says
 Indonesia had only 27 million registered taxpayers out of a population of 260
million in 2014, with only 900,000 of them having paid what they owed the
state. (Antara Photo/Wahyu Putro A.)

Jakarta. Despite strong growth in Indonesia's gross domestic product, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, says more tax reforms are needed.

In a report titled "2016 Economic Survey of Indonesia," the organization indicates that one of the country's main challenges is a narrow tax base, with only 10.7 percent of gross domestic product having been taxed in 2015, compared to 11.4 percent in 2012. It also says tax evasion is prevalent.

"Only 27 million taxpayers were registered in 2014, in a population of 260 million, and only 900,000 of those paid what they owed," the OECD said in the report.

The report also highlights the lack of efficiency in public spending and recommends that Indonesia scraps all energy subsidies, which account for 7 percent of public expenditure.

The OECD claims that this would be a necessary move for Indonesia to go green, meet renewable energy targets and boost funding for public priorities, such as education, health care and infrastructure.

The organization recommends the implementation of improved controls and performance-based budgeting if Indonesia wants to meet its target of 20 percent government spending on education and 5 percent on health.

Corruption appears to be the main factor that discourages businesses in Indonesia and hampers economic development.

According to OECD, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which plays a vital role in combating the challenge, should be provided with more resources and authority.

OECD secretary general Angel Gurria said an improvement in living standards can be seen in Indonesia, thanks to strong economic growth and social progress.

"Many challenges remain, but the government is moving in the right direction by reducing obstacles to doing business, improving the investment environment, and cutting subsidies," Gurria said in a statement on Monday (24/10).

Along with the launch of its economic survey, the OECD also introduced the "2016 Open Government Review of Indonesia," which recommends the establishment of a continuous budget for improving the quality and volume of data for public access.

KPK Receives 30 New Investigators From National Police

Jakarta Globe, Edo Karensa, October 09, 2016

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has welcomed at least 30 new
 investigating officers from the National Police to boost the number of corruption
cases it can handle. (Antara Photo/Widodo S. Jusuf)

Jakarta. The national antigraft agency has welcomed at least 30 new investigating officers from the National Police to boost the number of corruption cases it can handle.

"The new investigators will help to free the country from corrupt behavior, which has been a worrying trend, including outside Java Island where the KPK has not handled these cases very well," Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chairman Saut Situmorang told state-run Antara news agency in Jakarta on Saturday (08/10).

Prior to the addition, the KPK had 219 investigators – comprising 91 involved in initial investigations, locally known as penyidik, and 118 detectives, or penyelidik.

The increased number of investigators is still insufficient for the KPK, which received more than 5,694 reports of corrupt practices in 2015 alone. Among those reports, 2,807 had adequate evidence to be brought before a court, but the agency could only handle 171 cases.

The rest of reports were handed over to the Attorney General's Office, National Police, Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), State Finance Development Comptroller (BPKP) and related ministries.

KPK to Follow Up FBI's Allegations of Bribery at MAXpower

Jakarta Globe, Fana Suparman, October 03, 2016

A miniature of the Lontar power plant in Banten. (Antara Photo/Yudhi Mahatma)

Jakarta. Indonesian anti-graft agency KPK said it will follow up on initial reports from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation that power plant builder MAXpower had allegedly paid bribes to Indonesian officials to secure government contracts.

"We will look at the FBI investigation. If we find the alleged flow of cash to government officials in Indonesia, we will follow up the case," Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chairman Alexander Marwata told reporters in Jakarta on Monday (03/10).

Alexander's comment came after reports arose that London-based bank Standard Chartered was investigated by the US Department of Justice over claims that its Indonesian power plant builder subsidiary MAXpower had paid bribes to secure contracts in Indonesia.

The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported an internal audit of the MAXpower Group had revealed evidence of possible bribery and US prosecutors were examining whether Standard Chartered was culpable for not stopping it.

The reports showed indications that MAXpower made inappropriate payments to Indonesian government officials between 2012 and 2015.

"We definitely will cooperate with the FBI. According to the UNCAC [United Nations Convention against Corruption], all countries must cooperate to eradicate corruption," Alexander said.

Alexander pointed out that the KPK already has experiences handling corruption cases involving multinational companies, including a case involving Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Emir Moeis who was jailed for taking $357,000 in bribes from Alstom Power, an American subsidiary of its French parent company, and Japan-based Marubeni Corporation.

"We will process this case the same way we brought Emir Moeis and former Pertamina director Suroso, who also took bribes from multinational companies, to justice," Alexander said.

Responding to the allegations, MAXpower claimed they gave a "one-sided and partial view of the operations and events at the firm and as such do not give a full, or true view.”

Under a deferred prosecution agreement it reached with US authorities in 2012, Standard Chartered is due to remain under supervision by an independent monitor until the end of 2017.

Former Religious Affairs Minister's Jail Term Increased to 10 Years

Jakarta Globe, June 02, 2016

The Jakarta High Court has increased the prison term for former religious
affairs minister Suryadharma Ali, accused of multiple counts of graft during his
time in office, to 10 years on Thursday (02/06). (Antara Foto/Hafidz Mubarak A.) 

Jakarta. The Jakarta High Court has increased the prison term for former religious affairs minister Suryadharma Ali, accused of multiple counts of graft during his time in office, to 10 years on Thursday (02/06).

The court rejected his appeal against a ruling by the Jakarta Corruption Court in January, which sentenced the former United Development Party (PPP) chairman to six years in prison.

Suryadharma, found guilty of embezzling the country's hajj funds between 2010 and 2013 by awarding hajj quotas and free pilgrimages to friends and family members, was also deprived of his political rights.

"The right of the defendant to assume a public post is revoked for five years starting the end of his prison term," Jakarta High Court spokesman Heru Pramono said.

The court also upheld an order by the Jakarta Corruption Court that Suryadharma, who was found guilty of misusing the ministry's operational funds between 2011 and 2014 for personal use, has to pay a fine of Rp 300 million ($21,900).

The graft cases cost the state more than Rp 27.2 billion in losses.

SBY’s Tour de Java Ends with 10 Recommendations to Joko’s Administration

Jakarta Globe, Edo Karensa, March 21, 2016 

 

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with wife Ani Yudhoyono visiting
children during the SBY Tour de Java. (Antara Photo/Aloysius Jarot Nugroho)

Jakarta. Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono marked the end of his Tour de Java by issuing recommendations for 10 major issues to President Joko Widodo’s administration on Sunday (21/03).

SBY, who is also chairman of the Democratic Party, ended the 13-day tour across the Java by holding a coordination meeting with 34 heads of party’s provincial leadership boards in Surabaya, East Java.

“Through many events of ‘meet the people’ and ‘meet the cadres,’ the Democratic Party listens, discuss and gather aspirations directly from the people regarding many latest national issues,” said a party’s statement, released on Sunday.

The visit, which saw him go to West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java provinces over 13 days, concluded with the announcement of his findings:

Infrastructure development

The Democrats sees massive infrastructure development under Joko’s leadership as a good thing which will contribute a lot to country’s long-term economy.

Yet, the party suggested the policy should be followed with appropriate funding methods, arguing that "too much state budget for infrastructure will disrupt efforts to eradicate poverty."

Coordination between ministries and stakeholders are also needed to prevent "noisy" policy, like recent issues with the Jakarta-Bandung fast train.

Drugs and terrorism The Democrats support government’s efforts to fight the drugs and terrorism crimes with still respecting the laws and human rights.

State budget and fiscal policy

The Democrats understand serious problems in the state budget, calling on the government to seek rational and feasible solutions.

“It needs to be explained to the public transparently so they can know the problems; how to cover the deficit, whether by issuing new obligations or cutting off the budgets in certain posts,” the statement said.

Tax amnesty draft bill

The party sees the Tax Amnesty draft bill as a good thing and has been implemented appropriately in some other countries. SBY calls on the bill to ensure the aspects of economic benefit, social justice and good governance, before being approved and ratified.

KPK and efforts against corruption

The Democratic Party said the corruption eradication efforts must be prioritized so that a draft bill to weaken the antigraft agency should not be deliberated.

“We don’t want the KPK [Corruption Eradication Commission] to be the only one strong and effective [law enforcement institution]. All law enforcement institutions, like Police and Attorney General’s Office [AGO] [should also be strong].”

Unemployment

SBY’s party called on the government to impose appropriate tax policies to companies as the slowing economy growth has caused lay-offs and poor job absorption.

Political party’s Sovereignty

“Make sure the law supremacy is the main thing, not politics. Law is the commander, not politics,” the party statement said. They called on all parties to respect the parties’ sovereignty in addressing their own problems as stipulated in the laws.

Football and PSSI

The party said the conflicts of the Indonesian Football Association, or PSSI, has caused many losses for the country’s football climate as FIFA sanctioned Indonesia’s football in international events.

“Indonesia is humiliated and people have suffered the loss. The problems have occurred for long tome and dragging on uncertainly. Because of that, it needs to be resolved soon.”

Honorary staff and teachers

The Democrats suggested the government issue a policy ruling on the working guarantee for the honorary staff and teachers who currently cannot be promoted to be civil servants. The policy should be explained clearly to public and implemented consistently.

Government’s transparency and accountability

The Democratic Party sees some use of state budget which is lack of transparency and accountability, calling on the government to improve the governance to prevent budget-misuse and corruption.

The visits, dubbed #TourDeJavaSBY, also aimed to gather supports ahead of the 2017 simultaneous regional elections. In last December's simultaneous regional elections, Democratic Party candidates won 63 positions from 264 province, district and city races.

KPK Seeks Penalties Against Officials Who Fail to Disclose Their Wealth

Jakarta Globe, March 16, 2016

Pahala Nainggolan, left, the deputy for graft prevention at the Corruption Eradication
 Commission (KPK), seeks firm sanctions against public officials who fail to declare
their assets and the source of their wealth. (Antara Photo/M Agung Rajasa)

Jakarta. The Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, is set to propose stronger penalties against public officials who fail to submit their wealth reports to the agency, an official said on Wednesday (16/03).

Pahala Nainggolan, the KPK's deputy for graft prevention, said the antigraft agency was currently working on a draft government regulation in a bid to penalize public officials who fail to declare their assets and the source of their wealth.

The KPK announced last week that 209 of the 560 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, including House Speaker Ade Komaruddin of Golkar Party, have not yet submitted wealth reports for various reasons.

"An academic paper has been drafted and this government regulation will legally compel public officials to submit their wealth reports. If they fail to do so, there will be penalties, including salary cuts and moratoriums on promotions. Submission of a wealth report could also become a requirement for promotion," Pahala told reporters at the KPK offices in Jakarta, as reported by Antara news agency.

The KPK Law stipulates that every law enforcer and high-ranking public official is required to submit a wealth report to the antigraft agency before and after taking up a position in order to promote greater transparency.

The current regulation does not stipulate any form of sanction or penalty against public officials who refuse to comply with this requirement.

"[The regulation] must be clear and apply to all [public officials]. At the moment, the submission of a wealth report really depends on the ministers. If they are good people, they will push for it," Pahala explained.

The KPK is working to allow the wealth-reporting process to be submitted online, Pahala said. However, he added that public officials would be required to declare their assets every year.

SBY Invites Netizens to Speak Up on KPK Law Revisions

Jakarta Globe, Edo Karens, February 15, 2016

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, center, has invited Indonesia's
netizens to speak their mind about upcoming revisions to the KPK Law.
(Antara Photo/Teresia May)

Jakarta. Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, or SBY, has invited Indonesian netizens to discuss the government's plans of revising a law regulating the Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK.

According to Democratic Party secretary general Hinca Panjaitan, the meeting is scheduled to take place at Raffles-Hill, Cibubur, in East Jakarta on Saturday (20/02), correcting a previous announcement saying it will be held on Tuesday.

The meeting will collect the public's opinions on revisions of the KPK Law, which allegedly attempt to weaken the anti-graft agency.

Lawmakers have proposed four revisions that would alter the scope of the KPK's powers in the following areas: methods of conducting investigations, wiretapping, recruitment protocols and the establishment of a supervisory body to monitor the KPK

“SBY, Democratic Politicians and its party faction at the House of Representatives will directly meet and discuss with netizens. This is a way for the Democratic Party to articulate people's aspirations, which will be carried to a plenary meeting at the House,” Democratic Party spokeswoman Imelda Sari said in a statement.

In his twitter account, SBY started to collect comments and aspirations from netizens about the amendments with the hashtag #uukpksby.

"Regarding revisions on the KPK Law, what are your thoughts? Do you agree/disagree? Why? If you agree, what needs to be changed/expanded  on?" he tweeted.

Terkait revisi UU KPK, apa pendapat anda? Setuju/tidak? Mengapa? Jika setuju, materi apa yg perlu diubah/ditambah? #uukpksby

— S. B. Yudhoyono (@SBYudhoyono) February 13, 2016

Related Article:

Arrests Reveal Judicial 'Mafia': Anti-Graft Experts

Arrests Reveal Judicial 'Mafia': Anti-Graft Experts

Jakarta Globe, February 15, 2016

The Corruption Eradication Commission headquarters in South Jakarta.
(Antara Photo/Widodo S. Jusuf)

Jakarta. The recent arrest of a Supreme Court official in a sting operation from the antigraft agency has revealed corrupt and mafia practices within the country's judicial system, experts said on Monday (15/02).

Andri Tristianto Sutrisna, the head of the Supreme Court’s subdivision for civil lawsuits, appeals and judicial reviews, was arrested with Rp 400 million (around $30,000) in cash during a late-night sting on Friday.

He allegedly received the bribe as pay off to delay the issuance of a cassation ruling in a graft case involving businessman Ichsan Suaidi.

Ichsan and another four suspects were arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in separate busts on the same day.

Yenti Ganarsih, an expert in money laundering from Trisakti University, said the arrest of the court official reveals the "mafia" practices within the country's judicial system, which has been long running and involving high ranking officials of the Court.

"This practice has long been suspected. The decades-old Criminal Code Procedures Law, if its history is carefully reviewed, organizes kinds of bribery for the judges or the Court apparatus by the lawyers," Yenti said.

In 2013, Supreme Court clerk Djodi Supratman was jailed for two years for allegedly accepting Rp 128 million  in bribes from a lawyer in connection with an appeal being heard by the court.

The judicial process mafia is a latent risk and threatens trust in the Courts, Yenti said, adding that it is still difficult to eradicate corrupt practices.

The case should be studied by lawmakers currently fight for amendments to laws governing the anti-graft agency, Yenti said. The revisions are widely believed to weaken the authority of the KPK.

Lawmakers have proposed four revisions which would alter the scope of the KPK powers in the following areas: methods of conducting investigations, wiretapping, recruitment protocols and the establishment of a supervisory body to monitor the KPK.

Aradila Caesar, a researcher at the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), said the bust shows poor supervision and monitoring of the Supreme Court  — despite the institution already having an internal supervisory body.

He said the Supreme Court has opposed proper supervisions to the body by other parties, such as the Judicial Commission. On Oct. 7, Supreme Court won a judicial review at the Constitutional Court to annul Judicial Commission's roles in judges recruitment, letting the body to be fully authoritative in selecting the country's highest justices.

“The Supreme Court is resistant to supervisions [from other parties],”Aradila said.

Related Article:

Former Minister Jero Gets Four Years for Embezzlement

For Most Indonesians, KPK Is the Only Credible Graftbuster

JakartaGlobe, Yustinus Paat, November 26, 2015

A poll of 1,500 respondents by Indonesia Corruption Watch found that an
overwhelming 98 percent felt the KPK was necessary in Indonesia’s fight against
graft. (Antara Photo/Ismar Patrizki)

Jakarta. Most Indonesians feel the national antigraft commission is indispensable, in the absence of strong and consistent law enforcement by police and prosecutors, a survey has found.

The poll of 1,500 respondents by Indonesia Corruption Watch found that an overwhelming 98 percent felt the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was necessary in Indonesia’s fight against graft.

Respondents also rated the KPK higher than the National Police and the Attorney General’s Office on a scale of 1 to 10 of how committed they were to tackling corruption.

“They gave an average score of 5.3 for the police, 5.6 for the AGO, and 7.8 for the KPK, meaning they believe the KPK can do a better job when it comes to handling corruption cases compared to the other two,” Firdaus Ilyas, ICW’s research coordinator, said at the release of the survey’s findings in Jakarta on Thursday.

The poll also found, unsurprisingly, that respondents considered the House of Representatives the top priority for the KPK to tackle. Corruption perception indexes have consistently ranked the House as being among the most graft-ridden institutions in Indonesia.

“Thirty-four percent of the respondents said the House should be the KPK’s first target, followed by 22 percent for the police, 13 percent for the courts, 8 percent each for ministries and political parties, 7 percent for the state-owned companies, and 5 percent for the AGO,” Firdaus said.

The findings from the survey chime with a similar poll released last month by Indo Barometer, showing the KPK was by far the most trusted public institution in Indonesia, well ahead of the AGO and the police force.