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".