Supporters rally for Justice Adi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A retired respected judge and a legislator
\nrallied yesterday behind Justice Adi Andojo Soetjipto, who is
\nfacing dismissal from the Supreme Court for blowing the whistle
\non corruption practices in the legal system.<\/p>\n
Bismar Siregar, a former Supreme Court justice, said President
\nSoeharto must take into account the fine character and track
\nrecord of Adi Andojo in deciding whether or not to approve the
\nproposal to discharge the senior justice.<\/p>\n
"Adi Andojo has served as a deputy chief justice for a long
\ntime. He must have been very thoughtful and careful in his effort
\nto disclose alleged collusion in the Supreme Court," Bismar told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
"I don't believe it was Adi Andojo's intention to jeopardize
\nthe judicial system. The betterment of the system must have been
\nin his mind," he added.<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono disclosed on Friday that
\nPresident Soeharto had received a letter from Chief Justice
\nSoerjono proposing that Justice Adi be discharged.<\/p>\n
The move marked the culmination of a row, conducted in public,
\nbetween Soerjono and Adi over allegations of collusion in the
\nSupreme Court.<\/p>\n
Adi insisted that collusion practices were rife, while
\nSoerjono said there was no evidence to support the claim. The
\nchief justice later ordered Justice Adi to desist, saying that
\nhis action was undermining the integrity of the court itself.<\/p>\n
V.B. Da Costa, a legislator from the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty, said the government should seek independent opinions in
\nweighing Soerjono's request to dismiss Adi Andojo.<\/p>\n
"The government can also discuss the issue with the House of
\nRepresentatives," Da Costa told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Da Costa accused Soerjono of acting "arbitrarily".<\/p>\n
Bismar said Chief Justice Soerjono should not have become
\nemotional. "As Chief Justice, Soerjono has the prerogative right
\nto propose Adi's dismissal. But he should also have considered
\nAdi's goodwill in strengthening the image of the Supreme Court."<\/p>\n
By law, the chief justice has the right to propose to the head
\nof state to discharge any member of the Supreme Court on the
\ngrounds of either reaching the retirement age, physical illness,
\ninability to perform his or her duty and at a justice's own
\nrequest.<\/p>\n
Both Bismar and Da Lopez said the House of Representatives
\nshould also be given a say in the matter, given that it was the
\nHouse which had proposed the names of all members of the Supreme
\nCourt, including the Chief Justice, to the President.<\/p>\n
Da Costa warned that dismissing Adi Andojo would have negative
\nrepercussions on the country's legal system.<\/p>\n
"The day he is dismissed will be a black page in the history
\nof the country's judicial system. We should then hoist our flags
\nat half mast," he said.<\/p>\n
Bismar disagreed, saying that there are still many other
\nindependent-minded judges. "Do you think that all the other
\nIndonesian judges are really that bad?" he asked.<\/p>\n
Da Costa said that Justice Adi had never really been given the
\nchance to prove his allegations of collusion in the Supreme
\nCourt, noting some flaws in the way the court handled the
\ninvestigation into the allegations.<\/p>\n
"Even if his allegations were unfounded, he should be allowed
\nto defend himself before the Court's Honorary Council," he said.
\n"If the council later faulted him for misconduct, only then could
\nSoerjono initiate his motion to discharge Adi," said Da Costa,
\nwho is a member of the House's Commission III on legal affairs.<\/p>\n
On a separate occasion, Muladi, law professor and rector of
\nDiponegoro University in Semarang, said everyone should respect
\nwhatever decision is reached by the President.<\/p>\n
"President Soeharto would consider all factors in making a
\ndecision over the chief justice's proposal to dismiss Adi Andojo.
\nThe decision, whatever that may be, will be beneficial for the
\nnation and the Supreme Court," Muladi was quoted by Antara as
\nsaying on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Separately, Satjipto Rahardjo, a law professor at Diponegoro
\nUniversity, praised Adi as an "ideal" and "clean" judge.<\/p>\n
"Adi's idealism can be seen from his firmness in trying to
\nmaintain the good image of the Supreme Court by cleansing it from
\nany collusion practices," he said.<\/p>\n
He called on Indonesian judges to uphold Adi Andojo as an
\nexample of a good and ideal judge, so that the image of the
\nIndonesian judicial system would be clean. (imn)<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/supporters-rally-for-justice-adi-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }