TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The special audiences in jails for corruptors, organized by the parliament’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Right of Inquiry Special Committee last week, was a foolish move. Giving an opportunity for convicts to express their opinions on the legal process and to listen to these opinions in jails is an anachronism.
These corruptors were clearly found guilty by judges. The proof of their involvement was revealed in court-from the fact they were caught red-handed to the revelations of private accounts fattened by ill-gotten gains. The judicial process is final. There was no reason to bring them all together for an open discussion-a show of contempt for the judges’ verdicts.
The first audience before the Inquiry Committee was held at Sukamiskin Jail, Bandung, West Java, and was led by Committee chairman Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa from the Golkar Party. The convicts were asked about the investigation process and the compensation payments imposed by the judges. Among the prisoners at the jail are former Jakarta City Council member M. Sanusi, who was convicted of taking a Rp2 billion bribe from the boss of Agung Podomoro Land, and former House of Representatives (DPR) member Andi Taufan Tiro, who was jailed in relation to the bribery in the Rp7.4 billion project at the Public Works and Housing Ministry in Maluku. There is also former Democrat Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum and former Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) president Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq.
As well as Sukamiskin, a similar audience was held at Pondok Bambu Women’s Jail, East Jakarta. The KPK Special Committee also invited former corruption convicts to a meeting at the DPR.
It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the aim of these audiences was only to look for weaknesses in the KPK in its handling of corruption cases. The Right of Inquiry Committee is trying to compile stories of dissatisfaction from corruptors about their legal processes-and eventually, their guilty verdicts.
So far, there is no information as to whether the Special Committee members asked about the special facilities enjoyed by corruptors in prison-air-conditioned rooms, contrived permits for medical treatment as well as being allowed to travel outside jail for days at a time. If it wants to uphold the law, the Committee should also ask about these.
Given the ‘grudges’ these convicts hold against the KPK, it is likely that they vented their anger. Let us hope the convicts did not share ‘tips’ with the Committee Members about how to escape the clutches of the KPK: how to avoid telephone taps or conceal illegally obtained assets. Several DPR legislators have been involved in corruption cases. Others are trembling with fear because their names have been linked with the electronic ID cards mega-scandal.
What is worrying is that the ‘consolidated’ material from these legislators and corruptors will be used by the Committee to produce recommendations. This political decision will have widespread consequences: from changes to the KPK law to the dissolution of the agency. No matter how ridiculous the maneuvers of the KPK Special Committee, they must be watched.
Read the full story in this week’s edition of Tempo English Magazine
