Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Rogue prosecutors in North Sumatra have ways to help certain people arrested on corruption and drugs charges escape prosecution.

The presence of such prosecutors in the province is public knowledge, which may be the reason Attorney General Hendarman Supandji said North Sumatra was close behind Jakarta in this area.

The chief of the North Sumatra prosecutor's office, Tengku Zakaria, said at a meeting of prosecutors from across the province Tuesday that rogue prosecutors would be punished if found guilty of such behavior.

He said times had changed and dishonest prosecutors would no longer be "tolerated".

The prosecutor's office, he said, is under regular public scrutiny from non-governmental organizations and members of the public.

He said there is now no alternative for prosecutors but to work professionally at all times.

"Now prosecutors should work extra carefully when handling cases because they are under the spotlight. If it is proven they have handled a case wrongfully, they will be punished," Zakaria said.

Spokesman of the North Sumatra prosecutor's office J. Ketaren, said rogue prosecutors preferred to handle drugs and corruption cases.

Citing an example, he said some prosecutors "exclude" heavy penalties in their indictments, allowing defendants to get away with light penalties, or misuse facts to enable defendants to walk free.

"It seems there are many ways for rogue prosecutors to lower the sentences of defendants or set them free all together. Beside playing tricks with indictments, they are also good at lobbying," Ketaren said.

When asked how many prosecutors had already been punished, he said sanctions had been handed down to dozens last year.

The punishments, he said, generally involved administrative sanctions such as demotion. None have been punished so far this year.

"We are currently investigating several prosecutors who are likely to be punished this year. Who and how many? It doesn't matter," he said.