Consolidation first, says new Chief Justice
Consolidation first, says new Chief Justice
JAKARTA (JP): New Chief Justice Sarwata took office yesterday
promising to consolidate the Supreme Court which has been beset
by internal dissent and a huge backlog of litigation cases.
Sarwata made it clear that the consolidation move would
involve all fellow justices, including Adi Andojo whom former
Chief Justice Soerjono considered an enfant terrible.
"I would like to underline that the first thing I will do is
consolidate, and I will not go it alone," Sarwata said after
taking his oath of office in the presence of President Soeharto
and other senior government officials at the State Palace.
"We will consult all the justices," he said.
When asked whether Justice Adi would be involved in the
consolidation effort, Sarwata said: "He is (still) one of the
leaders of the Supreme Court."
Justice Adi, deputy chief for criminal cases, has been
fighting to clean up the Supreme Court's image, amidst
allegations of corruption.
His lone crusade became public knowledge in April when a
confidential letter he sent to the then chief justice, demanding
an investigation into the possible irregularities of a case,
found its way to the press.
Justice Adi was subsequently reprimanded, and Soerjono
petitioned President Soeharto to remove him from the Supreme
Court for insubordination. The request is still pending.
Soerjono turned 65 yesterday and was retired. Adi will reach
mandatory retirement age next April.
Sarwata, 61, who hails from North Sumatra, joined the Supreme
Court in 1990. He has served as deputy for military tribunals
since 1993.
A 1962 graduate of Gadjah Mada University's School of Law, he
has spent most of his legal career in military courts. He retired
as a commodore from the Air Force.
When reporters asked him about his plans for the court, he
said: "Give me time. But I promise it will be as soon as
possible."
He said he would base his leadership on musyawarah (consmnsus)
with other Supreme Court members, particularly with the deputy
chiefs.
"I make no promises, but in discharging our duty, we will do
our best and we will act as fairly as we can. We will strive to
be honest in establishing law and justice," he said.
At the same ceremony, T.H. Ketut Suraputra took his oath of
office as new vice chief justice, replacing M. Djaelani who
retired last month.
Suraputra, 61 from Bali, has served in the Supreme Court since
1982. His former position was deputy chief for the state
administrative court.
Sarwata and Suraputra were appointed by presidential decrees
on the recommendation of the House of Representatives.
Suraputra said after the short ceremony that the Supreme Court
was open to suggestions on reducing the backlog of cases awaiting
the court.
Soerjono said early this week that 14,000 cases are now still
pending in the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court now needs to appoint two new deputies to
fill Suraputra and Sarwata's old seats.
The court is also waiting for 10 new justices to be appointed
to replace those who reach mandatory retirement age this year.
In the oath taking ceremony, Sarwata read his oath as a Moslem
while Suraputra read his as a Hindu.
Also present were Vice President Try Sutrisno, House Speaker
Wahono the chairman of the Supreme Audit Agency J.B. Sumarlin and
members of the cabinet. (emb)