M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on law enforcers to exercise caution when investigating officials from state-owned enterprises for corruption.
Yudhoyono said Thursday that in their fight against corruption, investigators should act prudently to avoid building erroneous cases and wrongly prosecuting individuals.
"If a company suffers business-related losses, then this cannot be considered corruption. Corruption occurs when personal enrichment is made at a loss to the company," Yudhoyono said in an address to top executives from more than 100 state-owned enterprises.
Yudhoyono lamented the fact that a number of state-owned enterprise executives had been subject to trial by the press, and said he would stand in defense of those who had been wrongly-accused.
"Please report to me, because it is my obligation and the government's to correct it all. I have to uphold justice and law correctly," Yudhoyono said.
The President then called on executives to remain independent when making decisions by not being heedful to outside political interference.
Yudhoyono's recent comments could, however, send out the wrong message about his intention to fight graft. His bid for the presidency was significantly strengthened by his stance against corruption. Now, critics are accusing the President of targeting only former officials associated with his political rivals.
Scores of former government officials who have stood trial on corruption charges worked for former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is a potential rival for Yudhoyono in the 2009 presidential election.
The government currently controls 139 state-owned enterprises, many of which are havens for corruption. Many of the enterprises have long played the role of cash cow for corrupt government officials and politicians, who accrue funds from the companies to serve their own ends.
The most glaring example of unchecked corruption in state-owned enterprises is shown by the frequent prosecution of chiefs of the National Logistics Agency (Bulog).
A number of Bulog's top executives, including Beddu Amang and Rahardi Ramelan, have been jailed for misappropriating funds from the agency. Bulog funds have also been linked with the bank accounts of several politicians.
The appointment of executives to state-owned enterprises has become a battle between political factions, each wishing to reap financial benefits from the companies.