Collusion comments must stop

JAKARTA (JP): A senior member of the House of Representatives advised whistle-blowing justices yesterday to stop commenting on alleged corruption in the Supreme Court.

A.A. Oka Mahendra from the ruling Golkar faction warned that pronouncements on corruption would only confuse the public and tarnish the Court's image.

"Justices are very respected figures who should be careful in making remarks so that they will not mislead the public," Oka argued.

Oka was referring to Justice Adi Andojo Soetjipto, a judge who has relentlessly sought to unearth corruption in the Supreme Court.

Adi sparked more controversy last week when he addressed a seminar at the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute. He accused Chief Justice Soerjono of covering up a bribery scandal.

Adi was reprimanded by Soerjono for publicly accusing some justices of colluding with a defendant in a dispute over land acquisition for the Gandhi Memorial School project in Jakarta. (16)