Corruption isn¡¯t a new problem in Indonesia, but a spate of recent scandals is threatening an already fragile investment climate at a time when the resource-rich Southeast Asian economy can least afford it.
The latest example came this month, when police raided the house of Febrie Adriansyah, junior attorney general for the Special Crimes division and one of the country¡¯s most senior anti-corruption officials. Authorities seized 74 kilograms of gold bars along with cash and foreign currencies in seven suitcases locked in a safe. The total haul was valued at about $26.3 million. Adriansyah has denied wrongdoing, but was later named as a suspect in three cases and has been banned from leaving the country.
The episode has exposed a damaging rivalry between the police and the attorney general¡¯s office, raising fresh doubts about the institutions responsible for fighting corruption.
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