Court officials 'sought payoffs'

Court officials 'sought payoffs'

KUPANG, West Nusa Tenggara: About 30 residents of Noelbaki
village in Central Kupang district have reported court officials
for requesting a payoff to ensure their class-action suit was
successful.

The residents visited the local office of the Ministry of
Justice, the governor's office, the local legislature and the
provincial prosecutor's office on Tuesday, Antara reported.

A spokesman for the residents said judges wanted Rp 11 million
for a verdict in their favor.

The residents, including leaders of the Nuban tribe
Matheos Nuban and Melianus Nubatonis, said their inability to
come up with the money led to them losing the case.

Residents quoted an assistant of the head of the court as
saying the money would be distributed among the judges.

Speaker of the legislative council T. Djami said legislators
requested that police look into the allegations.

He said the allegations were ironic "at a time when we are
fighting for the supremacy of law".