"State prosecutors are now allowed to receive fees because fees are classified as gratification while they receive salaries from the state. The AGO has a provision that regulates it," Junior Attorney General for Civil and State Administration Cases (Jamdatun), ST Burhanudin said here on Monday.
Burhanuddin made the statement on the sidelines of a signing ceremony between Jamdatun and state-firm companies.
However, state prosecutors are allowed to received travel fees to or from the locations where they are handling a case in the civil and administrative cases.
Burhanuddin cited as an example that public prosecutors were allowed to accept it if the firm litigants in Palembang provided them with accommodations there (while they were invited from Jakarta).
He said that if a public prosecutor asked for money he or she would be charged with Government Regulations No. 53 / 2010 on Civil Servants Disciplinary Codes.
"If there are public prosecutors who ask for money, they could be reported to me or to the AGO`s supervision department," he said.
Prosecution, particularly on crime, is one the fields in the legal sector which is also prone to bribery where public prosecutors often seek for financial gains.
As an example, suspended public prosecutor Cirus Sinaga who was accused of having abused his authority and position to commit extortion when he was handling the tax corruption case of former tax officer Gayus Halomoan Tambunan.
The charge against Cirus was made by the prosecution at his trial for violating Article 12 of Law Number 21 of 1999 on corruption.
The prosecution said Cirus who had also handled the case of former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief Antasari Azhar had sought financial gain for himself and others in violation of the law and by abusing his authority had forced other people to pay or receive payments for him.
For his alleged criminal offense, Cirus faces up to 20 years in jail, if found guilty.
(Uu.A014/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
