Businessman reports graft in Supreme Court

Businessman reports graft in Supreme Court

JAKARTA (JP): The government-sanctioned National Ombudsman
Council received on Thursday a complaint of corruption in the
Supreme Court.

Businessman Djohan Taniwidjaya lodged a complaint with the
council alleging a substitute registrar at the Supreme Court in
August 1999 had asked him for a Rp 200 million payoff if he
wanted to win his land dispute case.

Djohan claimed the registrar told him the money would be given
to several justices.

According to Djohan, the female registrar gave him a time
limit of about one month to deliver the money, after she returned
from visiting her children who were studying overseas.

However, he said the offer was later taken back after the
other party in the case made a larger payoff.

The registrar then suggested Djohan negotiate a new price with
the justices.

Djohan claimed he had raised this matter with Supreme Court
secretary-general Pranowo late last year, but had not received a
satisfactory response.

Djohan was received on Thursday by council chairman Antonius
Sujata and council member Teten Masduki, who is also chairman of
the Indonesian Corruption Watch.

"We will soon establish a special team to examine this report,
clarify it with the Supreme Court and after that submit this
matter to the National Police to take further action,"
Antonius told journalists at the council's headquarters in Graha
Mustika Ratu, South Jakarta.

The council, which began its work last month, has received
some 300 complaints, most dealing with land disputes.(01)