Daily Lessons from Life 08 October 2009

"Indonesia anti-graft boss charged with murder
He allegedly masterminded a plan with two others to kill a director of a state-owned pharmaceutical firm. - Thu, Oct 08, 2009 Reuters

JAKARTA - The suspended head of Indonesia's anti-corruption agency was charged with murder on Thursday in a case that has hurt the reputation of a body that has spearheaded the fight against graft in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.


Corruption is seen as a major barrier to foreign investment in Indonesia, which was ranked 126th out of 180 nations by global graft watchdog Transparency International.

Prosecutors told the South Jakarta Court that Antasari Azhar, 56, along with a businessman and a high-ranking police officer, masterminded a plan to kill a director of a state-owned pharmaceutical firm.


Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, who had been a witness in a case investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), was killed by two gunmen after playing a round of golf in March.

The indictment alleged that Azhar and Zulkarnaen were involved in a love triangle with a young female golf caddy, who was also Zulkarnaen's third wife.


It said that Zulkarnaen had threatened to expose the affair unless Azhar helped get him promotion and to secure projects.

"Antasari was in a panic and scared. He then met Sigid (the businessman) and complained about his problem and asked Sigid to find ways to put away or finish the victim," prosecutor Cirus Sinaga said in the indictment he read out in court.


Azhar, who has denied any wrongdoing, repeatedly shook his head during the reading of the seven-page indictment. He could face the death penalty if found guilty of premeditated murder.
The alleged hitmen, the businessman and the police official are being tried separately. Under Indonesian law, the suspended KPK head will now be permanently removed by the president after becoming a defendant in a criminal case.

The case has tarnished the reputation of the KPK, but an anti-graft activist said it could now help improve its image.


"We have rejected him since his appointment. We consider this an effort to clean up an obstacle in the KPK, whether he is found guilty or not," Febri Diansyah of Indonesia Corruption Watch said. The trial is due to resume on Oct. 15.

Activists have been concerned about a power struggle between police and KPK, and also a new corruption court bill that analysts say has weakened the court's powers." "

Corruption and Indonesia. One is constantly linked to the other.

Lessons for me are:

1. No one is above the law. Remembered that. No matter where you are. It is just a matter of time if you are engaged in unjust act! It will come back to bite you!!;

2. Powerful, or so-called powerful, men are blinded by lust and power. They will eventually fall and suffered their just consequence!;

3. Will someone learned from this saga? I doubt so unless we are consciously looking out to prevent the human nature from going back to their 'good old way'!! It is a good old way. The human weakness of 'looking out for yourself first!' We need to guard against it. We have to constantly remind ourselves NOT to fall into the trap.

May Indonesia moves forward on fighting corruption and move to the next stage. Even when it will threaten Singapore, my beloved home country!