Indonesia and Britain Agree to Eradicate Corruption
Friday, 02 February, 2007 | 13:31 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Indonesian and British governments have agreed to cooperate intensively in eradicating corruption.

The cooperation is focused on legal matters, started with legal assistance discussions including extradition, money laundering and refusal of saving personal assets alleged to be results of crime.

“The agreement stressed the importance of returning assets which are alleged to be gained from crime,” said Marty Natalegawa, Indonesian Ambassador to Britain, when contacted by Tempo yesterday (1/2).

The agreement of cooperation was a result of a ministerial level meeting that took place in London, UK, on Wednesday (31/1).

The meeting, one of Foreign Affairs Minister Nur Hassan Wirajuda’s agendas, involved Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono and Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu.

Britain was represented by Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett, Defense Minister Adam Ingram and Development Minister Gareth Thomas.

Marty said the legal cooperation also included proceeds of crime acts, and the execution of other country court’s sentence.

“These are British legal principles,” he said.

In the cooperation, Marty continued, it was agreed that funds alleged to be the result of crimes and saved in the UK would be frozen.

According to Marty, the most important thing was that principally and politically, both countries agreed that corruption eradication is a priority.

TITIS SETIANINGTYAS | RINI KUSTIANI