Too Many Officials Imprisoned for Corruption: President Jokowi

TheIndonesia.co - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that too many officials in Indonesia have been arrested and imprisoned for graft cases.

"No other country has arrested and imprisoned as many of its officials as our country. This should be a shame," President Jokowi stated at the commemoration of World Anti-Corruption Day here on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara.

The president remarked that hundreds of officials had got involved in corruption cases in the 2004-2022 period.

In detail, 344 legislative officials; 38 ministers and heads of state agencies; 24 governors; 162 district heads and mayors; 31 judges, including constitutional judges; and eight commissioners from the General Elections Commission (KPU), Business Competition Commission (KPPU), and the Judicial Commission (KY) have been indicated of involvement in graft cases.

In addition, 415 officials from the private sector and bureaucrats were convicted of corruption in the 2004-2022 period.

Although several officials have been jailed for corruption, Jokowi remarked that until now, corruption cases are still rampant in Indonesia.

"This means that we need to evaluate. I agree with the (interim) Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) who said that education, prevention, and law enforcement are (important), but they must be fully evaluated," he stated.

Hence, to this end, President Jokowi encouraged the implementation of a more systematic and massive system to prevent increasingly complex, transnational, and multi-jurisdictional corruption practices.

Interim KPK Chairman Nawawi Pomolango stated that the government has striven to eradicate corruption in the country by establishing the KPK and revitalizing the National Strategy for Corruption Prevention.

Pomolango underscored the need to strengthen synergy among all components of the nation, including between law enforcement officials, the government, the business world, and the community.