Harsh action against errant judges sought<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Legal experts have called on the government to
\ntake strict measures against judges whose verdicts spark
\ncontroversy, instead of just giving them administrative
\nsanctions.<\/p>\n
National Law Commission member Frans Hendra Winarta and Todung
\nMulya Lubis from the Judicial Watch Indonesia both said that the
\nminister of justice and human rights should suspend errant judges
\nuntil their cases were settled thoroughly. They also asserted
\nthat the minister should publicize such cases.<\/p>\n
"We have to be fierce when handling corruption cases," he said
\non Friday, referring to judges suspected of taking bribes.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, Minister of Justice and Human Rights
\nBaharuddin Lopa announced that he had given administrative
\nsanctions to 12 judges who had abused their authority.<\/p>\n
Five of the judges were transferred to other posts and were
\nstripped of their authority to hand down verdicts.<\/p>\n
Frans told The Jakarta Post by telephone that it was about
\ntime the government strictly punished errant judges in an effort
\nto eradicate rampant corruption.<\/p>\n
He said that a consensus to combat corruption among all
\nmembers in the administration of justice was the first thing to
\ndo to foster an intolerance of corruption.<\/p>\n
Without such an effort, he said, corruption cannot really be
\neliminated.<\/p>\n
Frans said he was still optimistic that the government could
\neradicate corruption, as long as it assigned clean judges to
\nhandle corruption cases.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Todung said that minister Lopa should consult the
\nSupreme Court immediately to tighten supervision of judges in all
\ncourts in the country.<\/p>\n
Todung, who is a lawyer, viewed that there were many lawyers
\nwho played roles in collusion between judges and defendants,
\nmaking it more difficult to eradicate corruption.<\/p>\n
Therefore, he suggested that the minister cooperate with the
\nSupreme Court to form an ad hoc team to probe controversial court
\nverdicts.<\/p>\n
Contacted separately, Benyamin Mangkoedilaga, a Supreme Court
\njustice, indicated that not just judges, but also police officers
\nand prosecutors were often involved in bribery while handling a
\ncase. The government should take measures against them as well,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He said he supported any effort to eliminate corruption
\ninvolving judges, as long as the move did not violate any rules.<\/p>\n
He criticized Lopa, who passed administrative sanctions on the
\n12 judges before consulting the Judges Honor Board.<\/p>\n
"It was a wrong move," said Benyamin, who was nominated by
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid as a candidate for chief justice.<\/p>\n
In contrast to Benyamin, Frans said the Judges Honor Board had
\nnothing to do with the matter because corruption in the courts
\nwas a crime.<\/p>\n
He said the board was only authorized to handle ethical
\nviolations by judges.<\/p>\n
In Bandung, a judge said in the 13th congress of the
\nAssociation of Indonesian Judges (Ikahi) that the government
\nshould raise the salary of a district court judge to Rp 15
\nmillion per month, a high court judge to Rp 25 million per month
\nand a Supreme Court judge to Rp 40 million. The congress agreed
\nthat the salaries should be increased, but did not recommend a
\nfigure. Judges are currently paid between Rp 3 million and Rp 12
\nmillion. (04\/25)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/harsh-action-against-errant-judges-sought-1447893297",
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