Drop probe into justices: Court

Drop probe into justices: Court

JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court ordered the
Joint Anti-Corruption Team (TGPTPK) on Friday to drop its
corruption investigation into two justices of the Supreme Court,
saying that the team has acted beyond its authority.

Judge Rusmandani approved the demand of the two justices --
Supraptini Sutarto and Marnis Kahar -- to declare the
investigation invalid because of questions about the legality of
the team's work.

He said the court was not against the drive to eradicate
corruption, but insisted that it must stay within the legal
corridors.

The team, set up by a presidential decree in May, announced on
Aug. 21 that following its investigation, three serving and
retired justices had accepted bribes totaling Rp 196 million
($22,500) during a land conflict hearing last year.

The third person who was implicated, retired justice M. Yahya
Harahap, did not join the motion to file suit against TGPTPK, but
all three have denied the corruption accusations.

M. Silaban, a member and spokesman for the team, told
reporters it planned to file an appeal with the Supreme Court
against the decision.

In spite of the ruling, the team would continue to investigate
corruption cases, he said.

The team has made it a priority to eradicate corruption in
the judicial system, including the Supreme Court and district
courts.

The team was established following the enactment of the 1999
law on corruption as a provisional body until the establishment
of an anticorruption commission in 2002.

According to the law, the team -- comprising police, state
prosecutors and people from the legal profession -- is empowered
to conduct investigations and to prosecute suspects. It can also
seize evidence and tap telephone lines. (01)