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‘Betrayed’ Citizen Stabs Allegedly Corrupt Prosecutor in Court Ardi Mandiri | February 29, 2012 Indonesian prosecutor and graft suspect Sistoyo, left, is escorted from the Anti-Corruption court in Bandung after being slashed across the face by a man claiming to feel “betrayed” by the prosecutor’s alleged involvement in a bribery case. (Antara Photo) A man apparently furious at civil service corruption launched a violent assault on a graft suspect in a Bandung court on Wednesday, prompting fears that security in the nation’s courts leaves trial participants at risk of attack. The 40-year-old man, whom police are identifying as D.S., launched his attack on a prosecutor charged with graft during his trial in the West Java city’s Anti-Corruption Court. The prosecutor, Sistoyo, was on his way out of the courtroom when he was approached by a man. The man slashed Sistoyo with a blade concealed inside a newspaper, yelling “Traitor!” “He felt hurt because he felt that Sistoyo had betrayed the state with his involvement in the bribery case,” Bandung Police spokesman Adj. Comr. Rosdiana said. He added that D.S., a Bandung resident, surrendered to police after the attack. Roman Asrofi from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said Sistoyo sustained a slash wound to the forehead. “Blood flowed steadily and he was immediately rushed to Halmahera Hospital,” he said, adding that he had been standing to Sistoyo’s right when the attack occurred. Attorney General Basrief Arief said he was surprised by the incident, telling reporters in Jakarta that he has demanded a deeper investigation by police, one that could lead to other possible motives. Sistoyo, a prosecutor from the West Java town of Cibinong, was caught red-handed by the KPK receiving Rp 99.9 million ($11,000) in alleged bribes in his car. Bandung Police spokeswoman Comr. Endang Sri Wahyu Utami said that D.S. told police interrogators he was also planning to attack Cirus Sinaga, another prosecutor. Cirus has been convicted of corruption linked to the case of a tax official. “This D.S., it turns out, has an interest in cases related to corruption,” Endang said. “This attack was intended to provide a form of shock therapy to other corrupters.” D.S. told police that he believed corrupters were engaging “in treason against the state” and also hurting the public. Endang said the attack on Sistoyo left him with a gash on his forehead that measured eight centimeters long and one centimeter deep. She added that D.S. was once active in the Society for the Observation of Civil Servants, a nongovernmental organization. Nasir Djamil, the deputy chairman of House of Representatives Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, said that regardless of the motive, the attacker should be severely punished because he lacked respect for the due process of law. “On the other hand, this also reflects the weak perception of law enforcement officials in the eyes of criminals,” Nasir added. KPK spokesman Johan Budi regretted the incident, saying that no one should be allowed into a court carrying a sharp weapon. He added that the KPK would bear all medical costs incurred. Supreme Court Chief Justice Harifin Tumpa complained that the court system had the weakest security arrangement and was dependent upon others, like the police or the military, to safeguard its security. “The judicial institution is the weakest because it does not have police or soldiers,” he said. He expressed hope that the courts would one day have their own police force to ensure security. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
