APD | Indonesia offers money prize for those reporting corruptions

By APD writer Aditya Nugraha

**JAKARTA, Oct. 10 (APD) – **Indonesian president Joko Widodo has endorsed the option to give money prize for those reporting corruptions to the authorized institutions, saying it was a breakthrough way in eradicating corruption in the country.

The endorsement was issued in Government Regulation No. 43/2018, enabling the reporter to get up to 200 million rupiah (around US$ 13,000) and protection from legal enforcers related to the crimes he or she has reported.

In his official twitter account the president said that corruption is an extraordinary crime “That makes it has to be dealt with extraordinary way by involving the public,” he said.

Hailing the government’s latest initiative in addressing rampant corruption issue, Indonesia’s anti-corruption commission (KPK) expects to receive more public reports over corruption persisted in their environs.

“It (the amount of prize) was appropriate. We expect there would be more people file more reports on corruption cases,” KPK Spokesperson Febri Diansyah said on Wednesday.

He added that the compensation prize is part of efforts in strengthening corruption eradication drive the country.

Besides the prize, KPK also encourages related institutions to provide maximum protection for the reporter, including to the reporter’s families and possible lawsuits filed in by those allegedly involved in corruption against the reporter.

Indonesia has serious corruption issues

Indonesia has been facing serious corruption issues, involving senior and regional officials. Part of them were arrested red-handed by legal enforcers when received bribes from contractors of government projects.

KPK has sent numerous officials of central and regional governments to jail after they went through legal proceedings in the court.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)