Fahmi, Marzuki beat Golkar

JAKARTA: The West Jakarta District Court decided on Tuesday in favor of Golkar politicians Fahmi Idris and Marzuki Darusman, who had filed a lawsuit against the party over its dismissal of them.

In their verdict, the panel of judges said the party decision to fire the two politicians was not legitimate because it was made in violation of the party's statutes.

The statutes spell out three steps that must be taken when dismissing party executives, one of which being they would be given 30 days to correct any error they had made. The two were axed in about 10 days after openly supporting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in defiance of the party's dictates.

The procedure requires the party leaders to issue the first and second official reprimands before they can convene to fire errant party members.

The judges also said Golkar failed to give Fahmi and Marzuki a chance to defend themselves. Golkar leaders have to rehabilitate the two executive's reputation and announce it in Kompas daily for three consecutive days. -- Antara