Law expert justifies anti-corruption team<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Law expert Loebby Loqman justified on Wednesday
\nthe establishment of a team to investigate corruption cases
\npending the establishment of a commission in two years time.<\/p>\n
Loebby, testifying in a pretrial hearing which looked into the
\nlegality of the work of the Joint-Anti Corruption Team (TGPTPK),
\ndescribed the team as \"a stepping stone\" before the commission is
\nset up and begins its work.<\/p>\n
The hearing at the South Jakarta District Court followed a
\nlawsuit filed by two justices of the Supreme Court. They are
\ndemanding that the court declares TGPTPK's corruption
\ninvestigation against them as illegal.<\/p>\n
The two justices, Supraptini Sutarto and Marnis Kahar, were
\nnamed by the team in August as suspects in a Rp 196 million
\n(US$22,500) bribery scandal which has now been referred to the
\nAttorney General's Office.<\/p>\n
Loebby, a professor of criminal law at the University of
\nIndonesia was summoned as an expert witness for the plaintiffs.<\/p>\n
He declined to give his opinion whether or not the TGPTPK had
\nthe legal authority to conduct the investigation. \"I don't have
\nany knowledge of TGPTPK's working procedures,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Loebby said the establishment of an anti-corruption commission
\nwould be in compliance with the 1999 Law on Corruption which he
\nhelped draft.<\/p>\n
The commission, however, would only be formed in 2002 after
\nlengthy studies and preparations, he said. \"TGPTPK was founded as
\na bridge leading to the commission,\" he said.<\/p>\n
TGPTPK -- comprising 25 members drawn from the police, the
\nlegal profession and public figures -- initially is targeting the
\ncourts for its corruption investigations.<\/p>\n
Former justice Adi Andojo, who heads the team, announced on
\nAug. 21 that the team had sufficient evidence to refer three
\nserving and former justices of the Supreme Court for further
\ninvestigation by the Attorney General's Office.<\/p>\n
The third person implicated, former justice M. Yahya Harahap,
\ndid not join the motion to file the lawsuit against TGPTPK.<\/p>\n
Lawyer John Waliry representing the plaintiffs said TGPTPK had
\noverstepped its authority because such an investigation should
\nhave been conducted by the police or state prosecutors.<\/p>\n
Tigor Pangaribuan representing TGPTPK said that the corruption
\ninvestigation was conducted by police officers and state
\nprosecutors in the team.<\/p>\n
Judge Rusmandani adjourned the hearing until Friday. (01)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/law-expert-justifies-anti-corruption-team-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }