The Fight against Corruption in Indonesia

Progress in the fight against corruption in Indonesia is slow and faces many obstacles and countervailing forces. Since the fall of Soeharto, a number of new Laws establishing a more effective anticorruption legislative framework and institutions were put on the statute books. With the presidency of Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Executive has shown more commitment to the fight against corruption than under his predecessors. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the special Anticorruption Court established in late 2003 and 2004 respectively are seen by many as the last resort in a judicial system infested with corruption. The KPK has a wide-ranging mandate in both the prevention and prosecution of corruption, and has secured public trust through the bringing of a number of high-profile cases to court and upholding its own institutional integrity. Due to a recent ruling by the Constitutional Court, however, the fate of the Special Anticorruption Court post-2009 is now in the hands of the National Legislature. Many believe the Special Anticorruption Court is crucial to the fight against graft, and would favor allowing the Attorney General’s Office to also prosecute corruption cases in the special court. Although the Attorney General’s Office cannot prosecute former President Soeharto on the grounds of ill-health, it is preparing a civil case against the Soeharto foundations, and investigating a case against his son, Hutomo Mandala Putra (Tommy). Next year will be crucial for the fight against corruption due to the drafting of a new legal framework for antigraft efforts, the selection new KPK commissioners for the next four years, and the hosting of a number of international anticorruption events by Indonesia.