How Indonesia is fighting corruption, by envoy
Kola Aluko’s $50.9m penthouse in New York to be auctioned
Indonesia established four anti-graft agencies to deal with the cases of corrupt practices, the country’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Harry Purwanto told Daily Trust. These agencies included Eradication of Corruption Commission, Financial Intelligent Unit, Anti-Corruption Court and Dissemination of mindsets of anti-corruption.
Eradication Commission of Corruption
Indonesia, in 1999, enacted Eradication of Corruption Law and set up Eradication of Corruption Commission in 2003, Ambassador Purwanto explained. The commission, according to the envoy, has become among the strongest anti-graft agencies in the world, fighting corruption aggressively though carefully. The commission is authorized to handle high-profile cases while the police deal with those involving low-ranking officials. “Since 2003 to date, there were hundreds of highprofile corruption cases and all were successful. Those guilty of corruption were dealt with by the commission,” he said.
He sighted cases of ministers, a judge, senior police officers and chairman of ruling party who were indicted in corruption cases and were sent to jail. “There were handful of parliamentarians, governors, ministers, high ranking officials, even customs officers and officials of the anti-graft commission involved in corrupt practices, were prosecuted and jailed,” he said.
Anti-Corruption Court
Purwanto explained that Indonesia has “Anti-Corruption Court”, which handles corruption cases. He said the establishment of the special court has helped in speeding up corruption trials in the country. He said there was judicial independence with no interference by the government in the prosecution of officials accused of corruption. He Nigerian energy businessman Kola Aluko, declared wanted by the EFCC, has been identified as the owner of Apartment 79, a penthouse apartment in One57, one of New York City’s most expensive residential buildings.
However, the apartment would said though corruption, in Indonesian law, attracts capital punishment, there had been no individual sentenced to death. But there was someone serving a life sentence.
Indonesia is also strengthening institutions to make it difficult for corrupt practices to take place, the envoy explained. “We believe that it is not the individuals who really have corruption intention but the sometimes system gives chance for people to do whatever they want,” he said.
Financial Intelligent Unit
Indonesia established “Financial Intelligent Unit” to monitor flow of funds into and from the country, the envoy said. “This unit is very strong because it not only monitors looted monies, but also terrorists’ transfer of funds,” he told Daily Trust.
Dissemination of mindsets of anti-corruption
The envoy explained that there were extensive campaigns on anti-corruption with government engaging the Civil be sold to the highest bidder by a Luxembourg based Banque Havilland, in a foreclosure auction in July, the New York Post reported.
Aluko, 48, is believed to be hiding out on his yacht, which he rented to Jay Z and Beyoncé in 2015 for 900,000 dollars Society Organisations and movie stars in its anti-graft programme, which he said is also part of school curriculum in elementary schools. This, he said, was carried out through “Dissemination of mindsets of anti-corruption” campaign.
No amnesty officials
In Indonesia’s anti-graft law, the envoy said there was no amnesty for corrupt officials, who willingly return looted assets. “If you pay back all the money looted, you will still be tried. Paying back the money does not eliminate your criminal act,” he said, adding that “Our legislation is very strict on money laundering.”
Tax Amnesty for
Indonesia, Purwanto said, offers tax amnesty for those repatriating back to the country their “legal” money stashed in foreign countries because of the fall in the global prices of commodity. He said the policy, however, was criticized as “unfair” to those who are paying taxes for their money a week. The businessman, who is a friend of stars such as Jay Z and Jamie Foxx, has not been seen for a while, which has sparked rumours that he is hiding away on his yacht, which was last registered in the Bahamas in May.
Aluko was reportedly last seen in
corrupt
in the country’s banks. “The government offers tax amnesty because billions of dollars of Indonesia money are going outside the country. We want this legal money back to the country because they would be useful for infrastructural development,” the envoy said. Hong Kong in May and his yacht is currently in the Bahamas, according to the report.
His bank has also listed the yacht, the Galactica Star, as collateral in the foreclosure, but the yacht is ‘out of range’ at the moment. (NAN)