Indonesia’s way of calculating corruption losses – meaning how much money the state has lost due to corruption – is falling behind countries like Denmark and Finland, and it could have serious consequences in court.
That is the warning from Indonesian legal scholar Fransiscus Nanga Roka in a new opinion piece published by Opinion Nigeria.
“Numbers are supposed to be the truth when it comes to corruption trials. In Indonesia, they too frequently tell a story that has been decided.”
Figures may be shaped to fit the case
He says the amount of money the state is said to have lost is often unclear and not properly checked.
In some cases, he argues, the figures may even be shaped to fit the prosecution’s case.
“Rather than evidence forming the case, the case forms the evidence,” he says.
Roka warns that wrong numbers can lead to harsher sentences, and defendants often can’t check the data.
Nordic difference
Countries like Denmark and Finland are highlighted as examples of stricter legal standards
In Denmark and Finland, courts don’t just accept a number. Prosecutors must show exactly how much money was lost, and prove it with real documents and data.
“Their methods get tested and challenged,” Roka says.
Experts must explain their calculations in detail, and the defence can then challenge them.
