Demand for justices' dismissal supported

Demand for justices' dismissal supported

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri supported on Tuesday a demand
raised by the party's faction for the dismissal of the justices
handling Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra's case, secretary-general
Soetjipto said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a news briefing after the party's weekly meeting
led by Megawati, Soetjipto said that the executive board of the
party fully supported the demand to dismiss the justices for
overturning their colleagues' earlier verdict of a prison
sentence for the fugitive son of former president Soeharto.

The dismissals, however, would have to be conducted according
to existing procedures, he said.

"We, the executive board of the party, fully back the demand
as long as it is carried out in line with procedures," Soetjipto
said.

The PDI Perjuangan faction at the House of Representatives
urged the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Monday to
assess the Supreme Court's controversial decision on Tommy, who
was convicted of graft charges, during its annual session next
month.

The Supreme Court panel, led by Supreme Court deputy justice
M. Taufik, decided to free Tommy from all accusations in the
graft case. The decision has sparked public complaints and has
put Megawati's administration under scrutiny as to whether she
can uphold the law or not. The other two members on the panel
were Soeharto (no relation to former president Soeharto) and
Geerman Hoediarto.

Attorney General M.A. Rachman hinted on Saturday that
irregularities had been found in the Supreme Court's decision to
nullify an earlier ruling that sentenced Tommy to 18 months in
prison.

Tommy, who is accused of being involved in a series of bombing
incidents in the country, is also allegedly involved in the
murder of Syafiuddin Kartasasmita, one of the justices that
sentenced him.

Megawati, who is also the incumbent President, explained at
the meeting that the government could not interfere with the
ongoing legal process as it was the Supreme Court's authority to
make the decision.

However, it does not close the possibility that Megawati may
call for a thorough investigation into the justices that decided
to free Tommy.