Court hit by new 'mafia' scandal

Court hit by new 'mafia' scandal

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Supreme Court claimed on Monday that it was unaware of the
involvement of court clerks in the "judicial mafia", despite
reports over many years suggesting court employees from all
levels were involved in graft.

"It has (now) opened our eyes. We've been focusing (on
monitoring) judges, who have become the targets of criticism from
the public and justice-seekers. But now, (we find) employees who
have nothing to do with (the hearing of) cases may also be
involved," deputy chief justice for judicial affairs Marianna
Sutadi said in her office.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested five
employees of the Supreme Court and a judge-turned-lawyer early on
Friday morning over an alleged bribery case. KPK officials
confiscated some $US400,000 and Rp 800 million worth of funds,
which they believed were to be used as bribe money to win a case.

The arrested lawyer, Harini Wiyoso, is a member of legal
counsel team of businessman Probosutedjo, the cousin of the
country's former president Soeharto.

Marianna claimed the Supreme Court had implemented a tight
surveillance system, which monitored around 1,000 employees.

"Those who have been arrested are not (directly) involved in
(court) cases," she said.

The five employees are the court's general affairs bureau head
Malam Pagi Sinuhadji; two Indonesian Civil Servants Corps (KOPRI)
employees Suhartoyo and Sudi Ahmad; Sriyadi, an employee with the
court's civil affairs division; and Pono Waluyo, a worker at the
court's travel division.

Sudi had previously been accused of issuing a false verdict
several years ago, however the case was never brought to trial
and the Supreme Court only took administrative sanctions against
him.

Marianna said the Supreme Court supported the KPK's recent
action and promised to provide it with assistance for its further
investigations, including allowing the commission to question
judges.

The Supreme Court leadership met later on Monday to discuss
the case. The result of the meeting have not yet been disclosed.

Marianna said that the Supreme Court would dismiss the
employees involved in the bribery case if they were proven
guilty.

"The law allows us to dismiss civil servants," she said.

Harini and the other Supreme Court employees were questioned
by KPK investigators on Monday.

The Indonesian Corruption Watch issued in July 2002 a report
titled "Unveiling the Court Mafia", detailing the sad fact that
money and not justice was the currency in most courts throughout
the country.

The report added that the chain of corruption in the judiciary
did not stop before the Supreme Court -- the last resort for
justice seekers.

"No matter how small the power of a court official is, it has
the potential of becoming a commodity of corruption. The court
mafia involves all actors ... from the police, court
administrators, lawyers, prosecutors, to judges and prison
guards," the report said.