I'll do it my way, says new justice minister Lopa

I'll do it my way, says new justice minister Lopa

JAKARTA (JP): Newly installed Minister of Justice and Human
Rights Baharuddin Lopa said here on Monday that he would
employ his own approach in efforts to reform the judicial system,
including measures to achieve greater control over delinquent
judges.

"If I may, I want to work in my own fashion, which I consider
will be the most effective since we are now racing against time,"
he told journalists following a hand-over ceremony from his
predecessor Yusril Ihza Mahendra in Jakarta.

"There are too many things that must be done to correct the
judicial system, and it is not an easy job. But we will not stop
trying or working hard."

Lopa, a former director general of correctional facilities,
cited unreasonable verdicts handed down by judges, particularly
to defendants charged with corruption, as an indication of some
judges lacking integrity.

"There can be very striking differences between verdicts. In
one region, for example, a defendant charged with corruption
involving Rp 100 million in state funds was sentenced to five
years in jail, while here in Jakarta, the defendant in multi-
billion rupiah case only got two years."

"We cannot let such things continue because we are losing
people's trust. We must prioritize efforts to correct the judges'
objective integrity ... and it's very difficult," he added.

The 65-year-old Lopa said that he would do anything to
supervise the judges. He added that when he was the director
general he used to make impromptu visits to the penitentiaries at
night.

"Everything is satisfactory in the light of day, but at night
you might find that a convict was not in their cell. But (how I
will supervise) the judges is still a secret," he said.

Lopa, also a former Indonesian ambassador to Saudi Arabia,
said that he had asked President Abdurrahman Wahid to encourage
the ministry to work hand in hand with the Supreme Court in
improving the judges' performance.

He argued that, although his office was authorized to train,
screen and install the judges, in the performance of their
judicial functions they were accountable to the Supreme Court.

Regarding the review of laws, Lopa said that his office would
study all of the existing laws and regulations carefully before
deciding on what should be revoked, amended or introduced.

"The President has asked me to correct many things, but he
underlined two things; controlling judges and the directorate
general of immigration," he said. He did not elaborate on
concerns regarding the immigration office.

During the ceremony Lopa read out his circulated "Feb. 12
Announcement", copies of which were distributed to all judges as
well as the ministry's offices located throughout the country.

"This announcement is to be put in their pockets to remind
them of the importance of honesty, moral integrity and
discipline.

"So, hopefully there will be no abuse of power, including
bribery, which is the root of all crimes in the judicial
institutions," he added.

Present at the ceremony were several former justice ministers,
including Ismail Saleh, Oetojo Oesman, Mochtar Kusumaatmadja and
Muladi. Former attorney general Muhammad Andi Ghalib was also in
attendance.

After the ceremony Yusril and his wife were both in tears when
Lopa and all the employees waved farewell as they left the
building. One staff member recited a poem for Yusril. (bby)