There is a world agency called Transparency International which investigates corruption globally and have released their results for 2008 which makes for some disquieting reading.
The survey concentrated on how much baksheesh Indonesians are required to pay for Public Services was predictably topped by the Police.
The Jakarta Globe quoted:
“Bribes took place in 48 percent of police interactions with the public throughout 2008, according to the results of the survey, which was commissioned by the corruption watchdog.
The police have held the dubious distinction of topping the list for three consecutive years, although in the last two years it shared the position with the House of Representatives, and political parties, Transparency said.
The group added that the two other institutions had dropped off the top ten list for 2008.
“Bribery took place in nearly half of the interactions between police and the public,” said the group’s researcher. “The average sum of the bribes involved was Rp 2.27 million [$202].”
Not a bad take home for the boys in brown!
Second on the list was the customs office, at which 41 percent of respondents who dealt with the agency acknowledged having paid bribes. No figures were released against the “bonuses” the Customs officials gained, but, they must have come a close second to the winners.
Runners up were the Traffic and Public Transportation Office of the Ministry of Transportation, the municipal governments, the National Land Agency, and state-run port operator PT Pelindo.
Judges and their staff of course did their bit in keeping this high scoring, the total value again undisclosed but the average per bribe of Rp 102.4 million. The courts let the side down by only being considered as eighth place on the survey’s list, presumably because Transparency International would have had to bribe them to get the true 2008 total kickback figures.
A rather nice little explanation on the judicial system, although slightly stilted click here
A nice little stinger came from a member of Indonesian Corruption Watch who said:
“I’m surprised to see that the parliament and political parties didn’t make the list. Corruption in both places is still rampant, everyone knows that.”
Everyone has to be good at something and after years of practice, Indonesia has finally found it’s forte.
Fark me Diligaf. What a surprise. One of the plushest houses in Pondok Indah is owned by a junior clerk at the passport office!
ReplyDeleteThe "Boys in Brown?". We should be proud of 'em! The finest Police Force money can buy.
By a strange coincidence the word verification I had to enter to send this comment was "copgilt". How apt.