House nominates two candidates for chief justice

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)