New commission urgent to combat judicial corruption<\/p>\n
Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Law Committee (KHN) has urged the government, the
\nHouse of Representatives and the Supreme Court to immediately
\nform a judicial commission to eradicate the endemic corruption in
\nthe judiciary.<\/p>\n
In its statement released on Saturday, the committee blamed
\nthe rampant corruption in the judiciary on the absence of an
\nexternal monitoring institution, while an internal controlling
\nbody was not effective and tended to protect judges alleged of
\ncommitting graft under the spirit of the corps.<\/p>\n
"Nowadays, the judicial situation in the country is chaotic. A
\njudicial commission must be established to restore order," KHN
\nchairman J.E. Sahetapy told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.<\/p>\n
"The commission should have the authority to investigate
\nmisconduct of judges and to administer heavy punishment,
\nincluding dismissal," he said.<\/p>\n
KHN, which was formed by Abdurrahman Wahid's administration in
\n2000, is mandated to assist the President in deliberating
\npolicies on legal matters.<\/p>\n
Committee member Frans Hendra Winarta said that the public
\ncould not rely on the current internal monitoring of judges
\nconducted by the Supreme Court to curb corruption in the
\njudiciary.<\/p>\n
"The Supreme Court will not be able to carry out its task
\nconsidering the fact that it has a backlog of 14,000 cases
\nwaiting for verdicts," he said.<\/p>\n
The establishment of a judicial commission is stipulated in
\nLaw No. 25\/2000 on a national development program.<\/p>\n
The amended 1945 Constitution states that the judicial
\ncommission has the authority to uphold the dignity of judges,
\nwhich according to KHN implies that the commission will play a
\nstrong role in eradicating judicial corruption.<\/p>\n
"KHN is urging the government, the House and the Supreme Court
\nto discuss a judicial commission bill as soon as possible," Frans
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Zain Badjeber, spokesman for the House legislative committee,
\nsaid, the House had already proposed a bill on judicial
\ncommission to the government and was now waiting for its
\nresponse.<\/p>\n
"The government may be discussing changes to the bill and the
\nministry which will represent the President in the bill
\ndeliberation in the House," Zain said.<\/p>\n
The judicial commission bill stipulates that the commission
\nhas the responsibility to formulate a judicial code of ethics,
\ncontrol judges behavior and recommend sanctions against judges to
\nthe Supreme Court and the House.<\/p>\n
The sanctions, ranging from a written reprimand to dismissal,
\nwill be executed by the Supreme Court after consulting the House,
\nsays the bill.<\/p>\n
It also suggests that a candidate for the commission member
\nmust be between 40 years and 68 years of age, with 10 years of
\nrelevant experience. The House selects the commission members,
\nencouraging public participation in the nominations.<\/p>\n
In its statement, KHN also agreed to the planned fusion of the
\nPublic Officials' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) into the new,
\nmore powerful Commission for Corruption Eradication (KPK) because
\nthe latter will be allowed to take over an investigation from the
\npolice and prosecutors and is not allowed to stop the probe until
\nthe legal proceedings are over.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-commission-urgent-to-combat-judicial-corruption-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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