Lely T. Djuhari, Jakarta – Former dictator Suharto's son is accused of murdering a judge who ordered him jailed for graft, the head of the Central Bank has been convicted of misusing $80 million in bank funds, and the speaker of Indonesia's Parliament is on trial for corruption.
On the surface, these high-profile trials suggest that Indonesia is finally getting tough on rich and powerful suspects who have flouted the law for decades. But critics say most of the trials are a farce, with justice for sale to the highest bidder.
"It's a mess," said Indonesian anti-corruption activist Benny Harman. "It's hard to hope for a decent ruling on corruption when the arbiter is seen as corrupt." Four years after Suharto was ousted amid demands for a cleanup, graft is still endemic.
It threatens to scuttle Indonesia's hopes of recovering from the 1997 Asian financial crisis, because business leaders complain that the corrupt courts mean it's often impossible to enforce or settle disputes.
While the government of President Megawati Sukarnoputri has won some praise for beginning to attack corruption, many Indonesians are skeptical that justice will be done in a slew of cases involving influential figures.
In the murder trial of Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, Suharto's youngest son, many prosecution witnesses have recanted their original stories, and the lead defense attorney was briefly jailed after being accused of bribing witnesses for favorable testimony. The trial was adjourned Wednesday for a week after the billionaire defendant failed to show up due to illness.
Few expect Parliament Speaker Akbar Tandjung, still in office despite being on trial on charges of misusing $4.5 million of state funds, to be convicted. Last week, about 300 students – fearing Tandjung would escape the justice system – demonstrated to demand a special parliamentary probe. Police broke up the protest with a water cannon and batons.
The Tandjung and Tommy trials, which are being broadcast live on national television, are entering their final stages. Central Bank chief Syahril Sabirin has already been convicted, but is appealing – a process that can take years. Meanwhile, he is still at the helm of the Central Bank.
"Corruption in the legal system here happens at all levels and at every opportunity," said Wangstuti Zakiyah from Indonesian Corruption Watch.
She said defendants could pay for the judge they wanted to hear their case and bribe prosecutors to write favorable indictment papers. Bribes to the county's more than 5,000 judges are not always direct payments in cash.
"One judge asked for the defendant to pay billions of rupiah for his daughter's wedding in exchange for a more lenient verdict," said Zakiyah. "Another asked for an exorbitant fee to speak at a legal seminar."
Chief Justice Bagir Manan acknowledged his courts had problems. "We are understaffed, poorly paid and have limited authority to sanction those involved in corruption," he told The Associated Press.
Manan said the country's 38 Supreme Court judges were overworked, with some handling as many as 60 cases simultaneously. This caseload can lead to rushed decisions, he said.
Some investors say things are worse than under Suharto, when corruption was at least organized in a reliable patronage system. "Now, you still have to pay, but you can't sleep at nights wondering whether it will bring you any good," said an Indonesian businessman who spoke on condition only his first name, Djoko, was used.
Meanwhile, it's business as usual in the lobby of the Central Jakarta District Court. A 'broker' who calls himself John offers his services to speed up decisions and arrange meetings with judges. "I'll pay the judge 50 million first" – equal to $5,700 – he was overheard saying by phone to a client. "I don't know if I have any more cash now."