Central Sulawesi High Court judge dismissed after proven adultery with fellow judge

The Judicial Commission (KY) and the Supreme Court (MA) on Wednesday 4 March 2026 handed down permanent dismissal with pension rights to LTS, a judge at the Central Sulawesi High Court (Sulteng). LTS was found to have engaged in an extramarital affair with DW, a Sabang District Court judge, while both were still married. The ruling was read in the Majelis Kehormatan Hakim (Judges’ Honour Council) session at the MA building in Jakarta on Tuesday 3 March. LTS received permanent dismissal with pension rights, while DW was given a two-year ban from hearing cases. ‘The sanctions imposed on LTS are permanent dismissal with pension rights, and on DW a two-year ’non-palu’ (debarment from hearing cases) penalty,’ said Desmihardi, the chair of the Majelis Kehormatan Hakim and Deputy Chair of KY. In their defence, the respondents admitted and expressed remorse for the affair, which occurred while they held first-instance judge positions; the misconduct has marred the honour of the judiciary. They are now divorced from their former spouses and had remarried in October 2024. Since the divorce, they have continued to provide child support and maintain cordial communication with their former partners, a fact corroborated by those former partners who attended as supporting witnesses. MKH noted remorse from both respondents and said they would try to preserve their new marriages, which influenced MKH’s decision. ‘The respondents were found to have violated Clause 3.3.1(1), Clause 5.5.1.1, and Clause 7.1 of the Joint Regulations of the Supreme Court and the Judicial Commission No. 02/PB/MA/IX/2012-02/PB/P.KY/09/2012 concerning the KEPPH Enforcement Guidelines,’ Desmihardi said. The MKH session was chaired by KY Deputy Chair Desmihardi, with other MKH members including KY member Abhan, F Williem Saija, and Setyawan Hartono. The MA was represented by Supreme Court Justices Tama Ulinta Tarigan, Nurul Elmiyah, and Lailatul Arofah.