Judges questioned over bribery

JAKARTA: National Police have started questioning the three judges allegedly involved in bribery in the trial of the once- troubled, Canadian-based insurance company PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife.

The three judges issued a verdict declaring the company bankrupt. However, later, the decision was annulled by the High Court. The case gained serious attention from the government following a strong protest from the Canadian government.

One of the judges, Tjahjono, was interrogated for eight hours, from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., with 40 questions on Wednesday.

"The questions are simple and constructive without any pressure from the police," Tjahjono's lawyer Chandra Tirta told reporters after the interrogation.

Tjahjono along with two other judges, Hasan Basri and Ch. Kristipurnami Wulan, declared the insurance company bankrupt for failing to pay a dividend to former owner PT Dharmala Sakti Sejahtera (DSS) in 1999.

Manulife has said that the shareholders agreed not to pay any dividends in that year. --JP