Judges mega-wealthy despite low pay<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The majority of the 14 Supreme Court justice candidates who
\npassed the screening process by the House of Representatives have
\namassed substantial personal wealth despite their relatively
\nmeager official salaries.<\/p>\n
According to documents obtained by The Jakarta Post on
\nWednesday, Judge Andar Purba is the wealthiest candidate with
\ntotal assets of Rp 3.3 billion, while Judge Imam Harjadi comes in
\nat the bottom of the list with personal assets of Rp 165.5
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
Assets include bank savings, both in rupiah and dollars, land,
\nhouses and cars.<\/p>\n
The candidates are all career judges who have sat on the bench
\nfor between 30 and 40 years. Only in the past several years have
\nthese judges seen their salaries rise substantially, to as high
\nas Rp 98.1 million per year.<\/p>\n
Judge Abbas Said, for example, has earned a basic salary of Rp
\n3.74 million per month, or Rp 44.4 million a year, since October
\n2003. However, in a document he submitted to the House of
\nRepresentatives, he claimed Rp 550 million in assets.<\/p>\n
Andar Purba, born in Kabanjahe, North Sumatra, on Dec. 19,
\n1942, owns seven plots of land and houses in North Sumatra and
\nJakarta totaling 11,696 square meters in size and valued at Rp
\n2.008 billion.<\/p>\n
In comparison, a soccer field has a maximum size of 10,000
\nsquare meters.<\/p>\n
Andar also owns two sedans -- 1994 Honda for himself and a
\n1998 BMW for his wife. He explained his assets by saying he was
\nvery good at saving money from his salary as a judge.<\/p>\n
Djoko Sarwoko, born in Boyolali, Central Java, on Dec. 24,
\n1942, has four plots of land and houses in Jakarta, Batam and
\nSurabaya totaling 1,831 square meters and valued at Rp 603
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
He has owns three vehicles -- a 1995 Toyota Corona, a 1996
\nKijang and a 1993 Suzuki Starlet.<\/p>\n
Harifin Tumpa, born in Soppeng, South Sulawesi, on Feb. 23,
\n1942, claimed total assets of Rp 940 million, including a 312-
\nsquare-meter plot of land and house in Jakarta, Rp 113 million in
\na savings account and a car.<\/p>\n
The deputy chairman of House Commission II for home and legal
\naffairs, Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, said the value of the assets
\nclaimed by the justice candidates varied, but the only issue of
\nconcern was the source of the assets.<\/p>\n
"Those assets are the candidates' personal fortunes. If they
\nearned the assets legally, then we cannot just continue
\nquestioning them," Ferry told the Post.<\/p>\n
Legal experts have said the screening process for the
\ncandidates lacked transparency.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri is expected to approve all 14
\ncandidates as new Supreme Court justices.<\/p>\n
---------------------------------------------------------
\nNo. Name Age Court Assets<\/p>\n
(Rp)
\n---------------------------------------------------------
\n1. Andar Purba 63 Supreme Court 2.88 b + $45,000<\/p>\n
2. Djoko Sarwoko 62 Semarang High 1.008 b + $1,500<\/p>\n
Court
\n3. Muhammad Taufik 61 Palembang High Court 1.32 b<\/p>\n
4. Harifin A. Tumpa 62 Jakarta High Court 940.6 m<\/p>\n
5. Susanti Adi N 63 Supreme Court 908 m<\/p>\n
6. Moegihardjo 62 Supreme Court 551 m<\/p>\n
7. Abbas Said 61 Pekanbaru High Court 550 m<\/p>\n
8. Atja Sondjaja 62 Pontianak High 241 m + $28,000<\/p>\n
Court
\n9. Imam Soebechi 58 Supreme Court 510.7 m<\/p>\n
10.I Made Tara 61 Denpasar High Court 495 m<\/p>\n
11.Marina Sidabutar 61 Medan Administrative 200 m + five<\/p>\n
Court houses<\/p>\n
12.Gunanto Suryono 62 Supreme Court 204 m + $1,200<\/p>\n
13.Bahaudin Qaudry 63 Padang High Court 175 m<\/p>\n
14.R. Imam Harjadi 62 Tanjung Karang 165.5 m<\/p>\n
High Court
\n---------------------------------------------------------<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/judges-mega-wealthy-despite-low-pay-1447898762",
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