"However, Basrief needs to step up his efforts now."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) has criticized the Attorney General`s Office (AGO) for not being transparent in handling corruption cases.

"This can lead to the public perception that the AGO does not operate in the right manner," ICW activist Emerson F Yuntho said here on Tuesday.

He stated that if the AGO's public relations (PR) department functioned properly, it could improve the image of the office.

"Therefore, the AGO needs to evaluate its PR department`s competence in providing information to the media and the people," Emerson added.

"If the PR officers of the AGO are found to be incapable, it should replace them with more capable and committed people who are close to the media and are ready to work 24 hours," he said.

"Apart from that, the attorney general`s PR officers also need to improve their relationships with journalists," Emerson went on.

He noted that Attorney General Basrief Arief had performed his duties well and had also implemented measures to improve the internal operations of the office.

"However, Basrief needs to step up his efforts now," Emerson said.

"The AGO is now dealing with a number of corruption cases involving, among others, PT Indosat Mega Media (IM2) and the bio-remediation of fields which are former exploration areas of PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI)," he pointed out.

"The office is also handling the alleged corruption at PT Kaltim Prima Coal - in which East Kalimantan Governor Awang Farouk Ishak is a prime suspect and the purchase of rice-drying equipment involving Bank Bukopin," Emerson added.

Meanwhile, the AGO said last week that it would summon those considered responsible for the escape of two foreign defendants after the court sentenced them to three years of imprisonment for issuing counterfeited dollars.

Mzyece Isililo, alias Sky (19), from Zambia, and Mickelson Inzagi Joe, alias Eric Joe, (29) from Mozambique, fled on Wednesday night after the court passed its verdict.

Earlier, Deputy Attorney General Darmono said he had sought a full report on how the convicts escaped.

"There will be punishment for negligence in duty," Darmono said, adding that the sanctions could be as severe as dismissal.

Chief of the South Jakarta prosecution office Masyhudi stated that his office was still investigating the case.

"Investigations include why the convicts were not handcuffed when they were on their way from the court building to the Salemba prison," he said.

Masyhudi added that it was unlikely that the refugees had left the country.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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