The series of corruption that continues to occur is really disappointing and hurts the public's sense of justice.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
Kompas daily, 13 September 2022, wrote the news article: Papua Governor Lukas Enembe Becomes a Suspect. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) stopped Lukas.
The Directorate General of Immigration confirmed the request to ban Lukas from traveling abroad for six months. According to the plan, Lukas will be questioned on suspicion of receiving a Rp 1 billion (US$66,958) gratuity at the Papua Police Mobile Brigade Headquarters. However, Lukas could not attend because of illness. Lukas was represented by his attorney. Meanwhile, the masses demanded that the KPK stop the examination of Lukas because the masses considered that there was an attempt to criminalize him.
According to Kompas news (13/9/2022), there has been no official explanation from the KPK regarding Lukas' status. However, the series of corruption that continues to occur is really disappointing and hurts the public's sense of justice. The heavy public burden due to increasing prices is in stark contrast with the continued occurrence of corruption by state officials.
The increasingly massive corruption virus touches all walks of life, reminding us of Mohammad Hatta's view: that corruption has become part of culture, part of everyday life. During the 2019 presidential election campaign, presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto said that corruption in Indonesia was like a cancer that had entered stage four. However, Prabowo's insight was denied by a number of political elites because it was considered part of a political-campaign strategy.
We encourage the KPK to resolve the alleged acceptance of gratuities to Lukas Enembe. However, the examination of Lukas needs to carefully consider the regional spiritual atmosphere which is not yet fully conducive to Jakarta's political move to create a new autonomous region in Papua.
Measures to prevent and prosecute corruption cases are no longer sufficient to clear corruption from this country. Corruption continues to occur because of the existence of opportunities to commit corruption. Even when people are caught in corruption, the government, in accordance with the rule of law, easily grants remissions to corruptors.
There was even a corruptor who received a massive reprieve from her sentences. Prosecutor Pinangki Sirna Malasari, who was sentenced to ten years in prison, got a reduction to four years on appeal, and then was released after serving just one year and one month in prison!
Radical steps need to be taken to save the country from the dangers of corruption, including issuing a Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) for the confiscation of assets. The Asset Confiscation Law is one part of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo's campaign promises, in addition to strengthening the KPK. The Draft Law on Asset Confiscation was prepared long ago by various institutions. However, due to political resistance, the draft Asset Confiscation Bill is a draft on the table.