read in "Tempo Interactive"

--Severe Punishment for Arrogant Attorney--


08 September, 2013


TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The disgraceful behavior exhibited by Attorney Marcos Panjaitan when he threatened a worker at a gas station with a gun is really unacceptable. Marcos, an attorney at Tangerang District Court, must be given a severe sanction.

It all began when Marcos was furious to a worker at a gas station, who told her wife to move her car which had blocked another car. Reacting like a cowboy, Marcos then challenged the worker to fight while putting his gun on a table. Another worker was frightened and fainted when he saw the pistol. He was then rushed to the hospital.

Instead of being a role mode to the people by abiding by the law, Marcos exhibited his blatant arrogance. He must have felt that he was above the law. He treated the gas station workers like insects that he can crush as he pleased. His arrogance has brought about a travesty of justice in the eyes of the public.

Marcos can be sanctioned with Article 335 of the Penal Code on unpleasant acts. He can also be sanctioned with Article 368 on the threats to others. The attorney office must impose a severe sanction internally to give deterrent effect so that other attorneys will not do the same action.

The attorney office can also take examples from actions done by Bangka Belitung Governor to Zakaria, Head of the Bangka Belitung Investment Coordinating Board. Zakaria, who was involved in the hitting of a Sriwijaya Air flight attendant on June, was discharged by the governor straight away, although the legal process was still ongoing. It was done to make way for the investigation process.

Marcos should also be discharged so that the investigation of his case can be done transparently and objectively. Before this incident, we never heard his name. In fact, he is not an attorney with great achievements. The attorney office will not suffer a great loss if this attorney is missing from its personnel's list.

Now, the public is still waiting for a strict action done by the police and the other attorneys to investigate Marcos' case. They have enough evidence and witnesses. The workers at the gas station who were the victims of Marcos' arrogance have given comprehensive accounts to the media.

The attorney office should also do its job strictly to supervise ill-mannered attorneys. In the case that involves Marcos, the office must immediately give a right recommendation to restore public trust.

This country only needs attorneys who have brave hearts and can be a fair law enforcer, and can also protect the people. This country does not need law enforcers who act arrogantly by threatening people.



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