Corruption watchdog investigates Indonesia's Supreme Court

Updated June 19, 2008 11:09:46

Indonesia's Corruption Commission has arrested a number of high-profile Indonesians, including Bank Indonesia governor, Burhanuddin Abdullah. [Reuters]

Indonesia's anti-corruption body says it is investigating reports of financial mismanagement at the country's Supreme Court.

The Jakarta Post newspaper says officers of the Corruption Eradication Commission, KPK, confiscated documents from the Court on Monday.

The newspaper says the Commission's investigating the alleged embezzlement of more than $US3 million.

Haryono Umar, the deputy commissioner of KPK, told Radio Australia's Connect Asia program the investigation is in response to a report of problems with financial management at the Supreme Court.

He says the investigation of the Supreme Court is still in its early stages.

"Actually it's a pre-investigation to find out if there's any problem, or just an administrative problem or anything else," he said.

Transparency International ranks Indonesia in the bottom 30 of more than 170 countries in terms of corruption perceptions.

Such is the endemic nature of corruption in Indonesia that the latest probe into the Supreme Court has surprised few within the country's legal fraternity.

Over the past year, investigations by the KPK have led to the arrests of a number of high-profile Indonesians, including the Bank Indonesia governor Burhanuddin Abdullah.

He's in custody awaiting the outcome of a probe into the misappropriation of millions of dollars from the country's central bank.

You can find the full story at the Connect Asia website: http://radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia