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)