Acting chief justice installs 16 new justices

Acting chief justice installs 16 new justices

JAKARTA (JP): Acting Chief Justice Th. Ketut Sura Putra swore
in 16 new justices, who had been appointed by President
Abdurrahman Wahid, in a ceremony at the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

To journalists, the new justices pledged after the ceremony
that they would above all fight against the injustices that the
people are faced with.

Muladi, one of the justices who was installed, vowed that he
would take strict measures against the allegedly rampant "court
mafia" practices.

"I know that bar associations, solicitors, judges and the
court officials who work as 'middlemen' for judges, are all part
of the court mafia," the onetime state secretary in the
government of former president B.J. Habibie, told reporters.

"If appointed Chief Justice, I will make sure that any judge
violating the law will receive a very heavy punishment."

The appointment of the Chief Justice will take place in early
October.

When asked about the two justices named as suspects by the
government-appointed Joint Antigraft Team (TGPK) in a Rp 196
million (US$22,500) bribery case, Muladi said that all suspects
should be presumed innocent. "The court will decide later on that
matter."

As reported earlier, lawyers representing justices Supraptini
Sutarto and Marnis Kahar, accused the TGPK on Monday of illegally
investigating a bribery case. They said the bribery investigation
should have been carried out by National Police Headquarters or
the Attorney General's Office.

The antigraft team, headed by former judge Adi Andojo
Sutjipto, was set up by Attorney General Marzuki Darusman and
inducted by President Abdurrahman Wahid. The team, with the power
to conduct investigations and prosecute suspects, aims at
eradicating corruption in the judicial system, including the
Supreme Court and the district courts.

Instead of lauding the work of the TGPK in investigating the
bribery case, Muladi said the public should check the limits of
Adi Andojo's powers as the TGPK chief.

Muladi said the initial concept was that the Commission to
Eradicate Corruption, mandated by the 1999 antigraft law, was
supposed to be permanent, while its embryo, the TGPK, temporary.

The remaining 15 appointed justices comprise human rights
activist Benjamin Mangkoedilaga; lawyers Abdul Rahman Saleh,
Muchsin, Muhamad Laica Marzuki, Rifyal Ka'bah; legal watchdog
activist Artidjo Alkostar; lecturers Bagir Manan and Valerine
Kriekhoff; and career judges Andi Syamsu Alam, Edith Dumasi,
Tobing Nababan, M. Said Harahap, Margana, Syamsuhadi, Chairani A.
Wani and Abdul Kadir Mappong.

Meanwhile, Benjamin said the public, including those with
cases pending in court due to allegedly corrupt law officers,
must give voice to their complaints.

"The people must be able to make us aware of their problems
with the legal system. If appointed Chief Justice, one way I
would carry out intellectual and moral screenings of law
officers, including judges, is based on reports from the public,"
Benjamin said.

"I myself am ready to be criticized. I need to be a role model
if appointed as Chief Justice."

Benjamin made a name for himself in 1995 when as a judge at
the Jakarta State Administrative Court he ruled in favor of the
then banned Tempo weekly in its suit against the government.

On the judicial bribery case, Benjamin commented: "Leave it to
the people who are currently handling it (the TGPK). Trust them."

Similarly, Bagir Manan said the members of the public must be
vocal and report on what they find is very wrong with the system.

"The public has a big role to play. Help us with your
opinions, via the press, via non-governmental organizations like
Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW)," he said. (ylt)