“I\'m Not Able to Fight the System”

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

A giant banner displaying a message against corruption is installed at the Manggala Wanabakti building, the Environment and Forestry Ministry, Jakarta, Sunday (8/12/2019). World Anticorruption Day is celebrated on Dec 9.

The regional heads who are currently charged with corruption and those who have been sentenced have various reflections about what happened to them. Some claimed they had simply accepted money without knowing where it came from, while others argued that they were not able to oppose the system, including the high operational needs of regional heads.

The man frequently bowed his head. When he looked up, his eyes turned red. The person is the non-active governor of Riau Islands province, Nurdin Basirun. He then rushed down to the basement, after hearing the indictment against him at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday (4/12/2019). He was accompanied by his family, relatives and supporters.

The prosecutor charged Nurdin with accepting bribes of Rp 45 million (US$3,216) and S$11,000 ($8,086)) from various businessmen through the head of the Maritime and Fisheries Office of the Riau Islands province, Edy Sofyan, and the head of the fisheries department at the Maritime and Fisheries Office, Budy Hartono.

Nurdin was also charged with receiving gratuities of Rp 4.22 billion in 2016-2019. He accepted the indictment. On the way to the detention room, Nurdin had a chance to talk with Kompas about the alleged corruption that surrounded him. He acknowledged he had received money from Edy, which was used to help the community. However, Nurdin claimed he had never asked where the money had come from. He also claimed that the permit related to the utilization of the marine space he signed was made by Edy.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Non-active Riau Islands governor Nurdin Basirun attends a hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday (4/12/2019). Nurdin is suspected of accepting gratuities amounting to Rp 4.22 billion from 2016-2019. The money was reportedly handed over relation to the issuance of principle licenses for the use of marine space, reclamation location permits and reclamation implementation permits.

"I did not know anything. The request was made by Edy," said Nurdin, who also claimed to have never asked for bribes for the issuance of the permit through Edy.

Now, Nurdin is on trial. Nurdin\'s indictment and confession will soon enter the verification process.

Corrupt system

Nurdin\'s confession is different from the statement of the former regent of Pakpak Bharat regency, North Sumatra, Remigo Yolando Berutu.

In his defense, Remigo claimed to have tried to fight the corrupt system and various interests, but instead, was dragged into the current that made him have to deal with the KPK.

"I tried as hard as I could. In fact, I am not able to fight the system and various interests that endanger me. I must admit I was wrong because I had to compromise, leading to this legal process,” said Remigo, who previously reported the gratuities he received to the KPK.

The judge of the Corruption Court in Medan sentenced Remigo to a seven years in prison and a fine of Rp 650 million or an additional jail sentence of four months, as well as the revocation of his political rights for four years.

Remigo was proven to have received a bribe of Rp 1.6 billion from a number of contractors in exchange for contracts from the Public Works and Housing Office of the Pakpak Bharat regency. Some of the bribe money was used to finance the campaigns of his sister in the local election and to secure his wife\'s legal case.

Meanwhile, the regent of Cirebon, West Java, Sunjaya Purwadisastra actually thanked the KPK for processing the law, because he no longer needed to collect money and distribute them.

Whereas, initially, Sunjaya explained that he tried to refuse all the gratuities and did not try to ask for money.

In his defense, he explained that his position as regent needed a lot of money to secure the regional government from street rallies and to coordinate with the Regional Leaders Communication Forum (Forkopimda), all of which were not funded by the APBD. Whereas, initially, Sunjaya explained that he tried to refuse all the gratuities and did not try to ask for money.

Sunjaya was sentenced to five years with a fine of Rp 200 million or an additional jail term of six months for his involvement in the “sales of jobs” at the regency administration. Now, Sunjaya is still on trial in a case related to money laundering at the KPK.

Driving factor

Lecturer of psychology at Padjadjaran University, Zainal Abidin, explained that there were three main motives in humans, namely the need for power, the need for affiliation and the need for achievement.

In the context of perpetrators of political corruption, they act primarily based on the need to be in power and to capture affiliations.

“The need for achievement is low despite their position as state officials. Although the need for power is not wrong because everyone has it, but it should be intended for social activities and not for personal gains," said the author of a corruption psychology book.

However, corruption could also be triggered by external factors. For example, requests for funding both from political parties, government officials or members of regional legislative councils, not to mention a system that has a lot of “dark space” that encourages people to commit corruption.

But when intention is high, supported by social influences such as the existing system, it is not surprising that corruption is rampant like at present.

"So, let\'s say if the intention for corruption is high, but the social influence is low, it likely won’t happen. But when intention is high, supported by social influences such as the existing system, it is not surprising that corruption is rampant like at present,”  Zainal said.

Crimes will not occur if there is no intention and access. The question is have we tried to anticipate the various paths that can trigger corruption?