Banjarmasin lacks judges

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: The local district court here is seeking five more judges to meet the ideal line-up of 12 required for a I-A class, chief of the court Zaini Syamsu said on Saturday.

The I-A class is given to district courts in the provincial capitals.

Zaini said he expected the new judges to arrive immediately so that the court could improve its performance.

"Due to the understaffed situation, we have to work hard so that all cases can be settled within the deadline," Zaini said.

He said the lack of staff served as a blessing in disguise, because no left-over cases were recorded last year. As of June the court completed 300 cases, he added. (amd)