Bagir calls bribe accusation slanderous<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan reiterated on Wednesday
\nhe had not received any bribe money from businessman
\nProbosutedjo, describing the accusation made by the latter's
\nlawyer as \"slanderous\".<\/p>\n
\"This is 100 percent slander against me as chief justice
\nbecause I don't know -- and have nothing to do with -- this
\nbribery case,\" he said at his office, the day after Probosutedjo
\nadmitted to giving his lawyer Rp 6 billion (US$600,000) to bribe
\nthe chief justice and other court officials dealing with his
\nappeal against his graft conviction.<\/p>\n
Bagir, who is also a professor of law at Padjadjaran
\nUniversity in Bandung, said the bribery allegation had damaged
\nhis reputation as well as that of the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
\"I am very firm against bribery. Since I became a chief
\njustice, bribery eradication has been my number one priority,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
A number of judges, as well as court officials, have been
\npunished by the Supreme Court for their involvement in bribery
\ncases, Bagir claimed.<\/p>\n
He challenged Probosutedjo, who claimed he had disbursed a
\ntotal of Rp 16 billion in bribe money to court officials since he
\nwas convicted by the Central Jakarta District Court in 2003 over
\na graft case, to report the identities of the court officials to
\nthe Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
It was alleged by Probosutedjo that Rp 10 billion was
\ndisbursed while his case was being heard at the district and the
\nhigh court. The remaining Rp 6 billion was disbursed after his
\nlawyer, Harini Wijoso, suggested that he bribe Supreme Court
\nofficials and judges to overturn his two-year prison sentence
\nhanded down by the Jakarta High Court.<\/p>\n
He had initially been sentenced to four years' imprisonment by
\nthe Central Jakarta District Court.<\/p>\n
The lawyer allegedly told Probosutedjo that Rp 5 billion of
\nthe Rp 6 billion would be given to Bagir, who lead the panel of
\nthree Supreme Court justices who heard the appeal case. The other
\nRp 1 billion would be allocated for the other judges and several
\nSupreme Court staff members, the lawyer said.<\/p>\n
\"Did he give the money to the district court or to the appeal
\ncourt? We need to know in order to root out what happened,\"
\nBagir said, referring to possible court mafia.<\/p>\n
Bagir said for the time being he would not step down from his
\nposition as suggested by a number of parties, including the
\nJudicial Commission.<\/p>\n
\"I have no reason to step down. I am innocent. I have nothing
\nto do with bribery,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has so far
\narrested Harini, a judge-turned-lawyer, and five Supreme Court
\nemployees since last Friday in relation to the bribery case. The
\nKPK confiscated some $400,000 and Rp 800 million of the alleged
\nbribe money.<\/p>\n
The five Supreme Court staff members are: general affairs
\nbureau head Malam Pagi Sinuhadji; Suhartoyo and Sudi Ahmad, both
\nof whom work for the court's Indonesian civil servants corps
\nunit; Sriyadi, a staff member with the court's civil affairs
\ndivision; and Pono Waluyo, a staff member with the court's travel
\ndivision.<\/p>\n
Probosutejo, the half-brother of Soeharto, was convicted of
\nabusing reforestation funds, which cost the state some Rp 100
\nbillion in losses.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bagir-calls-bribe-accusation-slanderous-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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