Once dubbed a young, smart and promising politician with the potential to help fill the country's deficit of national leaders, Anas Urbaningrum has instead fallen from grace at just 45 years old while his peers move up the ladder or have already reached the peak of their careers.
Indeed, becoming Indonesian president was on Anas' wish list, which was why he contested and won the election for the job of Democratic Party chief in May 2010, to facilitate his bid for the top executive post. It was found later in his graft trial that Anas had committed corruption and money laundering in his attempt to realize his dreams.
On Wednesday, the Corruption Court, despite dissenting opinions from two judges, sentenced Anas to eight years in jail and fined him Rp 300 million (US$25,097) for graft and money laundering. He also has to pay Rp 57 billion in restitution to the state, or else his assets will be seized.
The prison term is far lower than the 15-year prison sentence sought by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors, but, as in previous cases, the KPK will appeal as the panel of judges failed to hand down the maximum punishment that would effectively deter potential fraudsters from committing graft.
The court found Anas guilty of receiving money from several government projects financed by the state budget, including the construction of Hambalang sports complex in Bogor, West Java. Former youth and sports minister Andi Mallarangeng and former director of state-owned construction firm PT Adhi Karya, Teuku Bagus Mohamad Noor, were among the officials sentenced in the case after former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin opened Pandora's box.
In spite of Anas' plea of innocence, the Hambalang case shows how rent-seeking practices work, in which politicians abuse their power to reap profits from projects funded by the state budget either to enrich themselves, cronies and families, or finance their personal ambitions, as in the case of Anas. The court found Anas raised campaign funds to win the party's chairmanship from fees paid to a company he set up along with Nazaruddin to harbor slush funds.
It was this political corruption that inspired the KPK prosecutors to seek the seizure of Anas' political rights in addition to the prison sentence and restitution payment. The court, however, did not fulfill the demand, but as in the case of the former president of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), we can hope the Supreme Court will finally hand down the extra punishment in the appeal hearing. Politicians who are convicted of graft do not deserve a chance to resume power because they have simply betrayed the people who voted for them.
Now that Anas has been convicted, the KPK holds the responsibility to find the missing pieces in the Hambalang puzzle so that justice is delivered to the fullest. In his trial, Anas named a number of people who he said were implicated in the case.
It is not just the family and friends of Anas who are disappointed with his conviction. The nation also regrets the fact that reformasi has given birth to a generation of politicians who justify all means, including graft, to reach their goals.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/09/25/editorial-corrupt-batch-politicians.html