The Corruption Cycle inside DPR

When the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested Damayanti Wisnu Putranti, an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker from Commission V, two serious concerns emerged. First, being arrested and thrown in jail for corruption is apparently not scary or shameful enough to motivate changes. Secondly, the House of Representatives (DPR) has failed to cleanse itself of the taint of corruption, despite the many cases that have afflicted many of its members. The ugly face of our parliament could be seen, once again, when Damayanti and her two assistants were nabbed in the process of accepting a bribe.

Damayanti allegedly accepted the bribe from Ambonese businessman Abdul Khoir. The case also involved two of her assistants, Julia Prasetyarini and Dessy A. Edwin, each of whom received S$33,000 in cash. The same amount was found in Damayanti's house on Jalan Joe, South Jakarta. KPK Chairman Agus Rahardjo said that Abdul Khoir, CEO of Ambon-based company Windhu Tunggal Utama, had promised to pay Damayanti S$404,000, or around Rp3.9 billion.