Demand for justices' dismissal supported<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nchairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri supported on Tuesday a demand
\nraised by the party's faction for the dismissal of the justices
\nhandling Hutomo \"Tommy\" Mandala Putra's case, secretary-general
\nSoetjipto said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a news briefing after the party's weekly meeting
\nled by Megawati, Soetjipto said that the executive board of the
\nparty fully supported the demand to dismiss the justices for
\noverturning their colleagues' earlier verdict of a prison
\nsentence for the fugitive son of former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
The dismissals, however, would have to be conducted according
\nto existing procedures, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We, the executive board of the party, fully back the demand
\nas long as it is carried out in line with procedures,\" Soetjipto
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The PDI Perjuangan faction at the House of Representatives
\nurged the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Monday to
\nassess the Supreme Court's controversial decision on Tommy, who
\nwas convicted of graft charges, during its annual session next
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court panel, led by Supreme Court deputy justice
\nM. Taufik, decided to free Tommy from all accusations in the
\ngraft case. The decision has sparked public complaints and has
\nput Megawati's administration under scrutiny as to whether she
\ncan uphold the law or not. The other two members on the panel
\nwere Soeharto (no relation to former president Soeharto) and
\nGeerman Hoediarto.<\/p>\n
Attorney General M.A. Rachman hinted on Saturday that
\nirregularities had been found in the Supreme Court's decision to
\nnullify an earlier ruling that sentenced Tommy to 18 months in
\nprison.<\/p>\n
Tommy, who is accused of being involved in a series of bombing
\nincidents in the country, is also allegedly involved in the
\nmurder of Syafiuddin Kartasasmita, one of the justices that
\nsentenced him.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who is also the incumbent President, explained at
\nthe meeting that the government could not interfere with the
\nongoing legal process as it was the Supreme Court's authority to
\nmake the decision.<\/p>\n
However, it does not close the possibility that Megawati may
\ncall for a thorough investigation into the justices that decided
\nto free Tommy.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/demand-for-justices-dismissal-supported-1447893297",
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