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)