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.