PEOPLE CALL FOR OPENNESS IN NAZARUDDIN'S JUDICIAL PROCESS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 12 (ANTARA) - Various quarters have called for transparency in Nazaruddin's judicial process so that those who feel uncomfortable with the arrest and repatriation of the former Democratic Party treasurer will not have a chance to influence his testimonies.          "Openness is the answer to the public's suspicion that there is a potential for intervention (into Nazaruddin's case)," Hendardi, chairman of the SETARA Institute, said.          Hendardi said that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and police were two institutions which had so far monopolized access to the suspect, particularly after Nazaruddin's arrest.          After hiding for about 75 days in three continents, Nazaruddin was finally arrested in Cartagena, a small town located about 600 km from Bogota, Colombia, South America, on Sunday (August 7, 2011).          Nazaruddin, who is also a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) is a graft suspect linked to the construction of a SEA Games athlete's village in Palembang, South Sumatra. He fled to Singapore a day before the KPK asked the ministry of justice and human rights to issue a travel ban for him on May 24.          During his hideouts overseas, Nazaruddin has made a number of statements in a private TV station interview that certain top leaders of the ruling Democrat Party also were involved in the SEA Games village corruption case.          Considering the potential of intervention of those feeling uncomfortable with the trial of Nazaruddin at home, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on police to protect the suspect. "I want to remind the Police chief, please ensure his safety because there might be people who feel uncomfortable with his return to Indonesia," the head of state said.          Hendardi said although his statements might not be true, Nazaruddin should be tried transparently. "The public needs to closely watch the movements of parties suspected to have the potential to influence Nazaruddin's testimonies," the SETARA Institute chairman said.          He has even suggested that the repatriation and escorting of Muhammad Nazaruddin from Colombia to Indonesia must involve independent parties, journalists and public lawyers.          The graft suspect together with a joint team of investigators left Bogota, Colombia, for Indonesia at 6.a.m Western Indonesian time (WIB) on Friday (Aug.11, 2011).          Deputy House Speaker Anis Matta urged the court to try the suspect transparently when it was taking Nazaruddin to justice. "The KPK must conduct the court trials transparently so that the public can follow them," Anis Matta said.          Even the KPK itself should be watched closely in conducting the judicial process. Political observer Yudi Latief of the Paramadina University in Jakarta said that the KPK needed a special supervision when it was trying the corruption suspect, Nazaruddin.          He said that the KPK was now less solid because it was under the handling of its Ethics Council. The KPK Ethics Council is now examining a number of its leaders who are accused by Nazaruddin of having met him (in a graft deal?). Nazaruddin alleged that he had met with KPK leaders Ade Raharja and Chandra M Hamzah.          After all, the term of office of the KPK leaders will soon end and they have also failed to pass the KPK leadership selection for the next office term.          "I think the most worrying fact is that the KPK is now suffering from 'cold'. Internal relations within the KPK itself are not that good. Some have no more chance to be re-elected and some others are still counting their chances. This needs supervision," Yudi said.          He said that the KPK needed to be urged to deal with Nazaruddin's case immediately and disclose those involved in the corruption networks. "If this can be revealed it will provide an extraordinary lesson to people in the political circle," Yudi said.          Yudi Latief expressed doubt that, without public pressures, the Nazaruddin case would be isolated and would touch only those in the lower level. He also expressed concern that transactions would be involved if the case touched on the inner circle of the nation's top leadership.          "Inconsistency can take place if the case touches on the inner circles of the nation's top leadership and it can be exchanged with a lenient punishment given to Nazaruddin on the pretext that he is whistle blower," he said.          Therefore,  Bambang Widjojanto, a KPK leadership candidate, raised the idea that the Nazaruddin case must be handled by a joint team of experts. "It would be more effective if it is handled by a team of experts," Bambang said.          He said that a team of experts could conduct a more transparent process and prevent the involvement of the interest of either side. Bambang, who is also a lecturer at the Trisakti University, said that the team of experts could be composed of experts in the forensic, banking and psychology fields, for example.          The team could also suggest the handling of Nazaruddin case in three institutions of KPK, police and the prosecutor's office. "But there must be one institution assigned as the coordinator to prevent miss communications," Bambang said.          He said that not all of the corruption crime cases should be tackled by the KPK because not all investigators of the anti-graft body had special expertise to handle certain corruption cases.          Moreover, the public could follow the process if the Nazaruddin case is handled by the three institutions.  "Once an irregularity happens in the  judicial process, the public could soon question it," said Bambang.***3*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/F001) 13-08-2011 12:42:3