OPENING REMARKS
Laode M Syarief *The Honorable,
Mr Kozo Honsei, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan,
Mr Keisuke Senta, Director of the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute (UNAFEI),Mr Bambang Waluyo, Acting Vice Attorney General/Deputy Attorney General forAdvancement,
Our visiting expert Mr Kim Han-Kyun, Director of the Center for International Cooperation in
Criminal Justice, Korean Institute of Criminology,
Distinguished participants from ASEAN countries,
And colleagues from the Indonesia National Police, FIU (PPATK), Financial Services
Authority (OJK), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
Assalamu’alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh and Good Morning to all of you,First and foremost, all worship and praise to God Almighty, as it is by His will that we
can gather here in this very prestigious Tenth Regional Seminar on Good Governance forSoutheast Asian Countries with the main theme of Contemporary Measures in International
Cooperation.
At present, corruption is no longer a mere crime, but has morphed into a threat that
tremendously impacts the social system and structure in our community. In fact, corruption not
only causes harm to state financial losses, it is also one of the main causes of poverty.
International Cooperation is needed to make effective and efficient Law Enforcement in order
to trace proceeds of corruption across the country, especially in the ASEAN region. At thistime, MLA is one of the best ways to recover proceeds of corruption across nations besides“good bilateral relationships”.
The study of corruption explains two things: First, the fact that poverty affects the HumanDevelopment Index (HDI). In 2012, Indonesia ranked 124th from 145 countries where HDIwas measured. Second, in countries categorized as “Corrupt” based on global corruption survey
results, the quality of human development, such as health and education, is adversely impacted.
Corruption also leads to increased infant mortality and school drop-out rates, and it reduces life
expectancy and literacy. These numbers lead to the conclusion that there is a very strong, direct
correlation between the Human Development Index and the Corruption Perception Index.
Corruption by state authorities delegitimizes the government, causes distrust in thepolitical system and democracy, undermines the credibility of law enforcement, further*

Commissioner, Corruption Eradication Commission of the Republic of Indonesia.

damages the environment, stunting economic growth and eventually leading to a collapse ofthe entire economy.
This seminar, held by UNAFEI in cooperation with KPK and AGO, is very interesting,and should be appreciated, for at least 2 (two) reasons. First, corruption these days isincreasingly internationalized, so it is often referred to as “transnational crime”. Cross-bordercorruption has intensified, involving international networks supported by professionals known
as “gate keepers”. In the Global Corruption Report, Transparency International has invited
experts and activists from all over the world to discuss specific themes and examine cases thatare seen as corruption trends in particular sectors. TI’s Corruption Perception Index and Bribe
Payer Index are used as empirical indicators of corruption. In light of the above, this seminaris very timely and important.
Second, a discussion that addresses the multiple aspects of corruption is of high relevanceto the dynamics and impacts of corruption on development. Corruption has widened,penetrating deeper into the fabric of society and infecting the various building blocks of thesocial structure. Corruption eradication requires a comprehensive perspective and anintervention strategy that sides with the interests of those who suffer from the impact ofcorruption. Thus, innovative and applicable solutions are a must to keep abreast of the criminals,
including campaigns designed to inspire an awareness to act and push for a more massive social
movement against corruption.
Indonesia is a State Party to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)(ratified by Law No. 7 of 2006), which places obligations on State Parties to provide
cooperation on extradition and/or MLA in corruption cases. Indonesia has signed the Southeast
Asian MLAT. Enacted on March 3, 2006, the LMLACM (Law on Mutual Legal Assistance in
Criminal Matters) contains detailed provisions on the grounds for extending and refusing
requests for MLA, the procedure for executing requests, and the types of assistance available,
including search and seizure and production orders but not taking of the evidence by videoconference. The LMLACM contains provisions on MLA regarding proceeds of crime which
include the requirements and procedure for executing foreign requests to restrain or confiscateproceeds. Furthermore, the Law on Extradition contains detailed provisions on the procedureand requirements for extradition.
Regarding incoming and outgoing requests for extradition, they should be made inwriting and sent through the diplomatic channel unless a treaty provides otherwise. All MLA
requests to Indonesia may be submitted through the diplomatic channel or sent directly to theMinister for Law and Human Rights. The Minister also prepares and sends outgoing MLA
requests. All MLA requests to Indonesia must be in the language of the requesting state and/orin English with a translation in the Indonesian language as well.
With regard to Indonesia, the KPK needs a smart, solution-oriented, and assertive wayof thinking to make corruption eradication more effective and efficient. In many countries anticorruption agencies are already mandated by the constitution, much like national human rights
commissions and general election commissions.
We also see interesting developments in criminal law, where crimes of corruption areincreasingly tried with multiple indictments, not only with money laundering charges, but also
tax crime. If KPK is given the authority to handle tax crimes that involve corruption elements,
the fight against corruption would accelerate and be strengthened exponentially. In fact, apotential legal basis for this is already provided by Article 43A paragraph (3) of Law 28/2007

on General Provisions and Tax Procedures, which states “in the case that an element ofcorruption is found based on initial evidence, the implicated employee of the Directorate
General of Taxation shall be processed pursuant to the provisions of the Law on Corruption”.
Third, the corruption case has grown more sophisticated and complex, supported by what
seems to be unlimited resources, an increasingly solid political network, bolstered by experts
and professionals. There are some indications of strategic positions in state institutions which
are dominated by certain groups with questionable anti-corruption credentials. The corruptors
and their cronies now employ a more sophisticated defense strategy, utilizing mass media tosafeguard their own interests. Their defense is no longer confined to the courtroom, but they
fight back on talk shows and discussions, using mass communication consultants to wage the“opinions war”. Already we see media’s independence and objectivity being questioned by the
public in situations when media owners find themselves at odds with the anti-corruption drive.
KPK has dedicated 13 years to combating corruption. Since it was established, KPK hasrecovered state losses totalling 248.89 trillion rupiah from enforcement efforts, and preventedthe loss of 197.39 trillion rupiah through its prevention efforts. There are also ongoingprogrammes to prevent potential state losses of 51.5 trillion rupiah. This much money can fundthe building of 2.5 million homes for the poor for free; or provide 22.6 billion litres of free milkfor children at risk of malnutrition; or provide one year of free elementary education to 429
million children; or give 29.3 billion kilograms of rice to people facing hunger; or build 1.9
million elementary school classrooms; or 1.8 million junior high school classrooms; or supply
49 million computers for schools; or provide seed capital to 25 million fresh university
graduates; or seed money to establish 4.9 million community-based cooperatives.
Despite these seemingly impressive numbers, frankly, we feel that we are still someways off from delivering the outcome that we desire. KPK needs all the support it can get fromall parties. KPK will not remain idle, and we have faith that we will prevail. There is not asingle day that goes by without fighting corruption, no second or minute passes in leisure whileletting corruptors run rampant. Attending this seminar, here in Yogyakarta, is akin to a caravan
heading towards an oasis. It serves not only to quench our thirst for your valuable input, butalso to strengthen KPK’s determination to remain firm and whole, to have unfailing belief that
we will triumph over corruption for the sake of our people and the motherland.
Before I conclude this speech, let me pose a question for us to ponder. Today, one of themajor challenges in corruption eradication is: what can we do, what corruption eradication
strategy, what programmes can we employ to produce outcomes that can benefit and be felt by
the people directly, rather than just feed the media circus and add more “noise” in the news.
We want to encourage the anti-corruption social movement to become more massive andenergetic, to make improvements to the system in order to minimize corruption and stem the
problem at its roots, We want to untangle the intricate web of corruption that has become
systemic and ingrained.
Finally, I wish all the best for the Seminar. May The Almighty bless all the sessions
where ideas and thoughts will be exchanged and discussed in order to find the best programmes,
strategies and formulations to conquer corruption. From Yogyakarta, for a Corruption-Free
Indonesia and ASEAN region, together with UNAFEI, AGO and KPK.
Thank you, wassalamu’alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.