Special Favors

THE Justice and Human Rights Ministry does not seem to regard corruption as a major crime. The gift of parole for businesswoman Hartati Murdaya shows the lack of any sincere desire to rid our society of that disease. Instead of than applying strict conditions when a convicted corruptor is released, the ministry broke its own rules and gave the former member of the Democrat Party Advisory Council special treatment.

Hartati should not have received this 'gift'. She was proven to have bribed Amran Batalipu, the regent of Buol, Central Sulawesi, with Rp3 billion to smooth the way for the issuance of a plantation and business permit for two companies. In February, the Corruption Court sentenced her to two years and eight months in jail. Amran was jailed for seven years and six months.

September 9, 2014