House nominates two candidates for chief justice

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives proposed yesterday two candidates for the post of chief justice: Deputy Chief Justice for Military Tribunals Sarwata and Justice Suwardi Martowirono.

The House also proposed two others for the position of deputy chief justice: T.H. Ketut Saraputra, who is currently deputy chief justice of the State Administrative Court, and Justice Chabib Sjarbini.

Incumbent Chief Justice Soerjono reached retirement age on Nov. 1, while Muhammad Djaelani last month retired from his position of deputy chief justice.

The proposal, drawn up in a House plenary session on Thursday, was announced yesterday by House Speaker Wahono in his speech when he closed the current sitting session. The House will convene again next month.

Wahono also said that in the next sitting term the House will draw up a list of candidates to replace those nearing retirement.

Sarwata, 61, shot to prominence when he led a team in the investigation of alleged collusion in the highest judicial institution early this year. Saraputra, 60, was one of the investigation team members.

Wahono said the Supreme Court reportedly has a backlog of 20,000 cases. "The cases in arrears certainly strains the court as a judicial institution that has promised to provide simple, speedy and cheap legal processing," he said.

Wahono also expressed concern over the court's performance, which he said had drawn criticism from the public. "Because of this situation, the House was very careful in examining the candidates that it now proposes (to President Soeharto)," he said.

"Lengthy discussions were held, and this reflected how the House wished to see respected, honest, professional candidates, those who have integrity and the ability to lead," he said.

"The House hopes that under these candidates, the Supreme Court will be able to meet people's expectation of it as the last bastion of justice," he said.

Public uproar ensued when it was revealed earlier this year that collusion and corruption might have taken place within the Supreme Court. Deputy Chief Justice for General Crimes Adi Andojo alleged that a group of senior judges had accepted Rp 1.4 billion (US$600,000) in bribes to acquit a defendant.

The investigation team led by Sarwata later announced that no wrongdoing had been committed, and the reported collusion was merely a "procedural error" on the part of the judges involved.

Adi was then adulated by many groups for his "brave" decision to reveal the "error", but was threatened with dismissal by Soerjono who believed that Adi had undermined the integrity of the court.

Soerjono initially ordered Adi to stop his whistle-blowing. When Adi persisted, Soerjono requested that President Soeharto endorse his demand to have Adi fired.

Soerjono's stance was harshly criticized by the public. Observers called on the government to let the Supreme Court handle its own crisis, citing any meddling would undermine the body's independence.

A number of experts also pointed out that it would be better if the government abstained from making any decision, and let Adi remain until he reaches retirement age next year. (26)