Neutrality urged in court inquiry<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A cabinet minister and a human rights group were
\nsplit yesterday on who has the authority to investigate the
\nbribery scandal that has rocked the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman said the Supreme Court
\nshould conduct its own investigation into the alleged bribery of
\na prominent judge by the defendant in a document-fraud case
\ninvolving Rp 1.4 billion (US$599,000).<\/p>\n
Oetojo proposed that the Supreme Court's Honorary Council move
\nto probe the case, which involves an Indian citizen, Ram Gulumal.
\n"To ensure objectivity, former justices with proven integrity may
\nbe asked to help the council," he told reporters.<\/p>\n
But the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM)
\ndemanded yesterday that an independent commission be formed to
\nhandle this matter.<\/p>\n
ELSAM executive director Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara
\ncriticized proposals to have the allegation investigated by the
\nSupreme Court's Honorary Council or its special supervisors as
\nallowed by a 1985 law on the Court.<\/p>\n
The non-governmental organization suggested that the formation
\nof the independent commission should be entrusted to the People's
\nConsultative Assembly, which is technically above the Supreme
\nCourt.<\/p>\n
"The Supreme Court as a state institution is at the same level
\nas the President and the Supreme Advisory Council. Therefore the
\ncommission should be formed by a higher institution," he said.<\/p>\n
The alleged collusion became public after the latest edition
\nof Forum Keadilan bi-weekly was published with a secret letter
\nfrom deputy Chief Justice for General Crimes Adi Andojo Soetjipto
\nto the Jakarta prosecutors office.<\/p>\n
Adi asked the office to review the Supreme Court's decision to
\nacquit Ram Gulumal of charges of unlawful land procurement for
\nthe construction of the Indian Gandhi Memorial International
\nSchool in Ancol, North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The magazine reported that Gulumal's release had sparked
\ncontroversy among senior judges because there were indications
\nthat the judge presiding over the case, Samsoedin Aboebakar, had
\nreceived a bribe of Rp 1.4 billion.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, the Indonesian Bar Association (AAI) expressed
\ntheir "deepest concern" over the alleged corruption in the
\nhighest judiciary institution.<\/p>\n
"It is truly deplorable that such an allegation is rocking the
\nSupreme Court, the last resort for justice," the association said
\nin a statement signed by chairman Yan Apul, deputy secretary
\ngeneral Sabirin Mudjid and deputy chairman Hakim Simamora.<\/p>\n
The association criticized Chief Justice Soerjono for failing
\nto investigate the scandal, although he found out about it in
\nDecember.<\/p>\n
The Chief Justice failed to take any action on the pretext
\nthat he was waiting for a formal report from the Jakarta
\nprosecutors' office. The prosecutors office has no authority to
\nhandle such a case, it pointed out.<\/p>\n
"AAI condemns collusion at the Supreme Court because such
\npractices not only tarnish its own image but also ruin the image
\nof the whole justice system," the statement said. (16\/pan)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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