JAKARTA - Indonesia Audit Watch (IAW) assessed the hand-catching operation (OTT) of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in the Customs and Excise environment in early February showed systemic corruption practices, not just the actions of individuals.
IAW Founding Secretary Iskandar Sitorus said the arrest of one of the officials who had been inaugurated eight days ago was a strong indication that the problem had been rooted in the system for a long time.
"It is impossible for a complex corruption scheme to be formed in just a few days. This means that the new official entered a system that was already running," said Iskandar, Tuesday, February 10.
According to him, the pattern of corruption in the customs sector tends to be regenerative. Whoever the official is, the mechanism and "unwritten rules" still take place. Therefore, the narrative about "bad people" is no longer relevant.
IAW considers this view in line with the findings of the Financial Audit Agency (BPK) over the past two decades. BPK has repeatedly noted similar weaknesses, ranging from weak post-import supervision, limited data integration, to physical inspections that depend on the discretion of officers.
"BPK never mentions individuals, the highlighted is always the system. That's why the case keeps repeating," he said.
Iskandar also questioned the allegation that the flow of bribes only came from one cargo company for 12 state civil servants (ASN). In the trillion-dollar import ecosystem involving many business actors, according to him, such corrupt practices are unlikely to be carried out singly.
He assessed that the findings of the safe house containing cash and gold actually showed the existence of an organized and long-running illegal fund management.
"Schemes like this usually involve many parties. It is difficult to accept if only one entity is playing," he said.
IAW encourages the government not only to rely on enforcement through OTT, but also to improve the governance and supervision system at the Customs and Excise. Without structural improvements, Iskandar assessed that similar cases could potentially continue to occur.
"The problem is not just the perpetrators, but the system that allows this practice to live," he concluded.
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