Mahfud MD Consider The Saber Task Force Extortion To Be Important: The Cases Are Minor, But Dangerous If Many

JAKARTA - The Task Force to Clean Up Wild Levies (Satgas Saber Pengli) is still needed in Indonesia. Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said that the Saber Pungli Task Force could move to eradicate 'light' scale corruption in public service centers.

"The cases are light, but dangerous in large numbers," said Mahfud MD, quoted by Antara, Saturday, December 19.

Mahfud, who is also the controller or person in charge of the Saber Pungli Task Force, said that even though the task force is tasked with eradicating extortion, it does not have pro justitia authority. Pro justitia authority means legal action that is legal and has binding legal force.

If in the case of alleged extortion, elements of a criminal act are found, then the handling will then be left to the police or prosecutors who have pro justitia authority.

Whereas in cases of extortion, there is no criminal element, but maladministration is found, it is recommended that the case be followed up by the inspectorate of the relevant institution.

Therefore, continued Mahfud, the Chief Executive of the Saber Pungli Task Force is the Inspector of General Supervision of the Police. While the deputies are the Inspector General of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Deputy Attorney General for Supervision of the Attorney General's Office.

According to Mahfud, this is to facilitate the follow-up in handling cases of extortion.

"So don't overlap in eradicating extortion. Don't just call people on behalf of the Saber Pungli Task Force, ”he warned.

Mahfud said that eradicating extortion can no longer be done using old methods, but must be innovative. This is because the mode of extortion is now increasingly sophisticated, unlike before.

He gave an example that bribes to state officials no longer use cash. The briber gave an ATM containing a very large amount of money to the officer.