Learning from Indonesia’s corruption crackdown

JAKARTA, Indonesia  – Unlike the Philippines, Indonesia’s anti-corruption agency is hitting a 100% conviction rate.  Its secret to success?

Ayee Macaraig has more from Jakarta.

Imagine sentencing the country’s top judge for life over bribery?
or jailing the President’s partymates and in-laws for corruption?
What seems close to impossible in the Philippines is a reality in Indonesia thanks to Jakarta’s Corruption Eradication Commission, known as KPK.

A Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, KPK stands out from many of its counterparts in developing nations because of its success in investigating and prosecuting top corrupt officials.
In a country with an endemic corruption culture, the agency owes its 100% conviction rate to powers like wiretapping without a court warrant.

BAMBANG WIDJOJANTO, VICE CHAIRMAN, KPK: You collect more comprehensive data and document and then you talk to the intelligence of the finance for the bank. We talk to the banks. We send letters to know information about the accounts, bank accounts.

But KPK does not do it alone.
Public participation is a key component of its work through a whistleblowing system that allows Indonesians to report corrupt acts anonymously.
In turn, it uses radio, video and animations to educate the public about fighting corruption.

AYEE MACARAIG, REPORTING: This is the Indonesia Corruption Watch, an NGO helping Indonesia’s anti-corruption commission.
They investigate tips and consolidate reports so the government agency can catch high-ranking corrupt officials.

The NGO says the KPK’s success can be replicated in other Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines.

ADE IRAWAN, COORDINATOR, INDONESIA CORRUPTION WATCH: It is possible. What is important is the government has to have enough willingness to make sure that KPK has independence and also has the power and resource to do its job.

Filipinos who have been living and working in Indonesia for decades say the pork barrel corruption scandal should push the Philippines to strengthen its anti-corruption agencies.

JAMIL MAIDAN FLORES, FILIPINO WRITER, COLUMNIST: There is a fear perhaps of giving too much power to an agency but if it is necessary to curb corruption and if you are able to put in good people with probity in there, I think it would work very well for the Philippines.

THELMA VICTORIO, FILIPINO INVESTMENT OFFICER: Here, also, the strong will of the government, they really jail the people. In the Philippines, they always seek for house arrest or hospital arrest. Here, no more, they arrest you, go to your house and put you in jail.

Indonesian anti-corruption advocates say while lawmakers will naturally reject reforms, an angry and vigilant public will not allow them to block change for long.
Ayee Macaraig, Rappler, Jakarta.

– Rappler.com