Wed, 13 Aug 2003

Bagir slams 'money-hungry lawyers'

PEKANBARU, Riau: Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan expressed concern on Tuesday that some lawyers were more concerned with money than justice.

"Lawyers must not only try to win legal battle, but maintain their professionalism and dignity," Bagir said in a speech read by deputy chief justice Syamsuhadi Irsyad during a ceremony here.

He emphasized that there was a time for lawyers to win and to lose.

"The desire to win any legal battle for clients by any means possible will turn lawyers into brokers," Bagir said.

Bagir said these types of lawyers were not only parasites, but poison to the court.

The ceremony was held to install a new head of the Pekanbaru religious court. -- Antara