Improved recruitment needed for judiciary
Improved recruitment needed for judiciary
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Major factions at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) are
demanding a better recruitment system as part of the efforts to
suppress the well-known corrupt practices at the Supreme Court.
Leaders of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan), Golkar, and the Reform Faction suggested that
"reward and punishment" mechanisms be introduced to the highest
judicial body, which many groups have accused of rampant
corruption.
"We don't want to see the Supreme Court, which is supreme by
name, unable to live up to the people's hope for proper law
enforcement," said Pramono Anung of PDI Perjuangan.
The Supreme Court has come under fire for its controversial
decision to overturn a lower court's verdict on Hutomo "Tommy"
Mandala Putra, the fugitive son of former president Soeharto in a
corruption case.
Some factions in the Assembly had earlier questioned why the
Supreme Court did not mention the controversial exoneration of
Tommy in September. They said Tommy's release had betrayed the
public sense of justice.
Pramono said his faction would ask the House of
Representatives (DPR) to tighten the so-called "fit and proper"
examination for Supreme Court candidates.
It is hoped that better fit and proper tests would result in
more qualified and uncorruptable Judges.
Alvin Lie from the Reform faction said that a more
professional recruitment system would help improve the Supreme
Court's image.
Alvin specifically doubted the competence of M. Taufiq, the
Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice, who chaired the Court's team
reviewing Tommy's appeal.
"If a person like him is still there, it would be difficult
(to uphold the supremacy of law)," Alvin told The Jakarta Post.
Alvin said his faction would propose an Assembly decree on
better recruitment and a "reward and punishment" mechanism.
"The decree should also deal with dismissal of the Supreme
Judge. If we can select chief justices, we should also have the
authority to dismiss them," he added.