The Nadiem Trial and Indonesia's "Rubber" Anti-Corruption Laws

Simon Butt and Tim Lindsey argue in New Mandala that Nadiem Makarim’s trial demonstrates how Indonesia's vaguely drafted anti-corruption laws enable politicised, arbitrary prosecutions.

The trial of Nadiem Makarim shows how broadly worded anti-corruption laws are facilitating arbitrary prosecutions by Indonesia’s increasingly politicised law enforcement agencies. The Constitutional Court is being presented with a new opening to narrow the scope of corruption offences but any reforms will likely come too late to save the former education minister from a lengthy prison sentence.