Former justice wants trial stopped

P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Former judge Adi Andojo told a hearing on Tuesday that the civil suit made against him by a client of the now-defunct Anticorruption Joint Team (TGPTPK) should be considered expired.

"I have retired and I am no longer the chairman of the team," he told the South Jakarta District Court.

Plaintiff Endin Wahyudin accused Adi Andojo and former attorney general Marzuki Darusman for their failure to provide legal protection for him as promised earlier when he stood as the team's informant.

Endin demanded both the accused to pay Rp 3 billion (US$352,941) in compensation.

The joint team, which had been the embryo of the long-awaited Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), had promised to grant Endin immunity against prosecution if he agreed to testify about bribes for three supreme court justices.

Endin, whose identity was later made public, testified that the justices received a total of Rp 96 million to change their decision over a land dispute case in Bandung.

Two of the justices, Marnis Kahar and Suprapti Sutarto, later accused Endin in a defamation suit as soon as the bribery case was taken to the court.

Endin was then sentenced to a 3-month suspended jail term with a 6-month probation period.

Adi Andojo said the accusation against him was baseless. "Endin himself could be charged with violating the law on involvement in bribery," he told reporters.

Presiding judge Syamsul Ali adjourned the hearing until Dec. 30 to hear the plaintiff's counter argument.