Controversial Manulife judges exonerated<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Once again the Indonesian judiciary would appear to have shot
\nitself in the foot with the Supreme Court finding the three
\njudges who declared Canadian-based insurance company Manulife
\nbankrupt innocent of all the allegations made against them.<\/p>\n
The court also called on President Megawati Soekarnoputri to
\nlift the suspension of the three judges in consideration of the
\nfindings of the disciplinary committee that examined their cases.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said
\non Monday that the government had not intervened with the Supreme
\nCourt in the latter's investigation of the three judges.<\/p>\n
\"The three judges were suspended while their case was being
\nprobed, but they must be allowed to resume their posts as the
\nSupreme Court's disciplinary committee found no strong grounds
\nfor firing them,\" said Yusril, who appeared disappointed with the
\ndecision.<\/p>\n
\"I have submitted a letter to the President asking her to lift
\nthe suspension of the three judges,\" he said, explaining that the
\nPresident had the prerogative to maintain the judges in office or
\nfire them in such a case.<\/p>\n
The three judges -- Tjahyono, CH Kristi Purnamiwulan and Hasan
\nBasri --, were suspended last year for allegedly taking bribes to
\ndeclare Manulife bankrupt at the behest of the now-defunct PT
\nDharmala Sakti Sejahtera.<\/p>\n
Yusril further said that there would be further discussions
\nbetween his ministry and the Supreme Court about transferring the
\njudges out of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Maybe we can do that, but we have to discuss the
\npossibilities with the Supreme Court,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The Manulife case almost disrupted bilateral ties between
\nIndonesia and Canada as the company was considered healthy and
\nsolvent.<\/p>\n
Yusril asked for a thorough investigation by the Supreme
\nCourt, which finally found the judges innocent last week after a
\nprobe that lasted months.<\/p>\n
He said that as soon as the President lifted the judges
\nsuspensions, that all charges against them would be worthless in
\nfront of a court of law.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights only had the power to
\nhandle the administrative side, while the judges' assignment and
\nother issues were the responsibility of the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
\"I did what I could, but it was decided that they are innocent
\nby the Supreme Court, and that is it,\" the minister stressed.<\/p>\n
This is not the first time the government has expressed
\ndisappointment over Supreme Court decisions, with Megawati
\npublicly saying that the judicial system had failed the public's
\ntrust.<\/p>\n
\"We have tried to resolve the case, but with the decision of
\nthe Supreme Court we have no choice but to ask the President to
\nlift the judges' suspensions,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
However, he was unable to say when the President would sign
\nthe orders lifting their suspensions.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/controversial-manulife-judges-exonerated-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}