Akbar's lawyers warn of pressure on judges
Akbar's lawyers warn of pressure on judges
Kurniawan Hari and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta
Lawyers of convicted Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung on Friday
criticized the increasing frequency and size of the protest
rallies outside the Supreme Court (MA) building, saying that the
demonstrations could sway the justices and affect their
independence.
Amir Syamsuddin also said some media groups had "played up"
the student demonstrations.
Dozens of students have staged rallies outside the Supreme
Court building in recent days while the judges discussed Akbar's
appeal case.
When the five-judge team examining the appeal failed to reach
a decision on Thursday, dozens of protesters threw rotten
tomatoes at the building.
Akbar has also said a number of times that the demonstration
outside the Supreme Court building was an act of intervention
into law enforcement.
Amir admitted that the public doubted the independence of the
judges in the past, adding that the nation was now in the process
of rebuilding the justice system. "We don't want to repeat our
past mistakes," he avowed.
The press briefing was also attended by lawyers Denny
Kailimang, Atmajaya Salim, and John H. Weleri.
Director of the Institute of Research and Advocacy for Judge's
Independence (LeIP) Rifqi S. Assegaf said that the concern of
Akbar's lawyers was to be expected.
Rifqi, however, said that in a country where corruption was
rampant and corrupters rarely sent to jail, such protests were
also to be expected.
"I don't think the demonstration outside the Supreme Court
building should surprise anyone," he told The Jakarta Post.
Kailimang stated that the public ought to respect the legal
process by keeping quiet.
Akbar was convicted by the Central Jakarta District Court for
his involvement in a Rp 40 billion (US$4.7 million) corruption
scandal and was sentenced to four years in jail.
That was later reduced to three years by the Jakarta High
Court. Akbar remains at liberty since his conviction pending the
final decision on his appeal.
The prolonged delay in deciding Akbar's case -- the appeal was
filed in the middle of last year -- has sparked widespread
speculation of backroom deals and political intrigue.
On Thursday, Judge Paulus Effendy Lotulung, who heads the team
looking into Akbar's case, said that the judges decided to
postpone the discussion of the case as they needed more time to
review some more evidence, but declined to specify.
Chief Justice Bagir Manan, however, earlier stated that the
task of the Supreme Court in appeal cases was only to review
whether the lower courts had applied the law properly.