House announces 44 justice candidates

Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta

The House of Representatives said on Tuesday it would conduct a series of interviews with 44 Supreme Court justice candidates next week.

All 44 of them, who were nominated by the Supreme Court, have had long careers as lower court judges. They will be vying for 12 spots as Supreme Court justices and two for the constitutional court.

Deputy chairman of House Commission II for domestic and legal affairs AR Gaffar said the commission members had all been banned from making contact with the candidates prior to the screening process, scheduled to take place between June 14 and June 18.

Gaffar said the commission wants to improve upon last year's recruitment, which may have been tainted. At least one candidate came forward and said he had been asked for money by a person claiming to represent commission chairman Agustin Teras Narang. The commission, however, dismissed the allegation at the time.

"There will be no bribes involved in the selection," Gaffar was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Teras said the lawmakers expected feedback from citizens, who would be allowed to provide input on the candidates' credibility and integrity via written statements. The commission will give the general public from Tuesday until Saturday to hand in the statements about the candidates.

"The feedback from people is part of our efforts to ensure transparency and public accountability in the selection of new justices," Teras said.

For the sake of transparency also, he added, the House would not take into account any input sent anonymously.

Statements can be sent to the House Commission II secretariat at Nusantara Building II on Jl. Gatot Subroto, Central Jakarta, or by fax to 021-5714-522 or 5715-524.

The complete list of the candidates is available at www.thejakartapost.com or www.dpr-ri-komisi-2.or.id.

After receiving the statements, the commission will conduct interviews on June 14 for six candidates, 10 candidates on Tuesday, 10 on Thursday and the rest on Friday.

The commission will vote to determine the eligible candidates on Friday evening, with the House's endorsement to be given in a plenary session scheduled for June 21. Later that same day the President is expected to approve the candidates.

only for website List of 44 justice candidates:

1. Abbas Said, High Court chief in Pekanbaru, Riau 2. Agus Djunaedi Iskandar, Supreme Court official 3. Andar Purba, Supreme Court official 4. Ansyahrul, Supreme Court official 5. Atja Sondjaja, High Court chief in Pontianak, West Kalimantan 6. Azwar Dalim, High Court chief in Banjarmasin 7. A. Gatam Taridi, judge at High Court in Jakarta 8. Bagus Sugiri, High Court chief in Palu, Central Sulawesi 9. Djoko Sarwoko, High Court chief in Semarang 10. Gunanto Suryono, Supreme Court official 11. Hakim Simanjuntak, High Court deputy chief in Surabaya 12. Harifin A. Tumpa, High Court chief in Jakarta 13. Hindarti Suhandaru, judge at High Court in Surabaya 14. Hirman Purwanasuma, judge at High Court in Jakarta 15. I Gusti Ngurah Suparka, High Court chief in Jayapura, Papua 16. I Ketut Suradnya, State Administrative High Court chief in Makassar 17. I Made Tara, High Court chief in Denpasar 18. Imam Soebechi, Supreme Court official 19. Kardjan, High Court chief in Makassar 20. Lay Minggus, State Administrative High Court chief in Surabaya 21. Marina Sidabutar, State Administrative High Court deputy chief in Medan 22. Moegiharjo, Supreme Court official 23. Mohammad Dalail, High Court chief in Mataram 24. Monang Siringo Ringo, High Court chief in Medan 25. Muhammad Taufik, High Court chief in Palembang 26. M. Baedhowie H, judge at Jakarta District Court 27. M. Bahaudin Qaudry, High Court chief in Padang 28. M. Tojib Matderis, judge at High Court in Palembang 29. Risardi Iman, State Administrative High Court chief in Jakarta 30. R. Imam Harjadi, High Court chief in Tanjung Karang 31, Sartono, High Court deputy chief in Pekanbaru 32. Satri Rusad, Supreme Court official 33. Soeparno, High Court deputy chairmn in Padang 34. Soeratno, judge at High Court in Semarang 35. Sofjan Zen, High Court chief in Yogyakarta 36. Sri Widipratiwi S. judge at High Court in Semarang 37. Stephanus Soetrisno, High Court chief in Manado 38. Sudibyo Karto H,judge at High Court in Semarang 39. Sumartono, judge at High Court in Semarang 40. Suryanto, High Court deputy chief in Semarang 41. Susanti Adi Nugroho, Supreme Court official 42. Suwardi, High Court chief in Banda Aceh 43. Tutik Sri Rijani, judge at High Court in Surabaya 44. Yunizar, judge at High Court in Medan