Independent judicial branch needed: Muladi

Independent judicial branch needed: Muladi

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice Muladi said the judicial
branch could build a respected and effective legal system only if
it was free from intervention from the executive and legislative
branches.

"Efforts to uphold the system cannot succeed by wiping away
corruption and collusion alone. It also has to be free from
intervention," said Muladi at Diponegoro University in Semarang,
Central Java.

Muladi, sworn in as minister last week, urged the elite to
respect judicial independence and not meddle in legal decisions.

Such intervention is a direct infringement of human rights, he
said.

"Whoever it is, whether it's the executive or legislative
branches, I implore you not to violate these human rights," he
asserted.

Muladi was quoted by Antara on Saturday as saying that the
independence of a judge to make a decision free from political
duress is protected by the constitution.

He also urged judges to maintain their integrity, assuring
them positive evaluations if they did.

He pointed to Yogyakarta's Bantul District Court judge Endang
Sri Murwati who handed down a decision last year to free Dwi
Sumadji after it was found that there was insufficient evidence
to sentence him for the murder of Bernas journalist Fuad Muhammad
Syafruddin.

Muladi said Endang's good performance record prompted the
ministry to promote her to the head of the Central Jakarta
District Court.

"We will provide some sort of incentive for judges, either
through promotions or something else, who truly maintain high
professional integrity," Muladi said.

He said he would initiate dialogs with the legal community to
tackle problems in the system, including what has been called the
"court mafia".

Muladi said he was personally disinclined to use the term
"court mafia" since infractions had yet to become too severe.

Seer

Several leading Islamic religious leaders have objected to a
remark by Muladi that he would employ a soothsayer to catch the
notorious Eddy Tansil.

After his appointment last week, Muladi said he would employ
all means available, including a paranormal if necessary, to
catch the Rp 1.3 trillion swindler who escaped from prison.

Berita Buana reported yesterday that Muladi's remark created a
stir in the religious community, which considered his statement
as going against Islamic teachings.

Ali Yafie of the Indonesian Ulemas Council, said Islam does
not recognize paranormals and thus regretted that a minister
would say he would resort to using one for official purposes.

Attaillah Hamidi of the Indonesian Propogation Council also
said that Islam does not condone or recognize the use of
soothsayers.

Islam emphasizes prayers and hard work, he said. (mds)