Justice Benjamin replaces murdered Syafiuddin
JAKARTA (JP): Chief of the Supreme Court Bagir Manan said on Monday that Justice Benjamin Mangkoedilaga had been appointed as the chief of the justices team preparing the establishment of an Ad Hoc Human Rights trial replacing the late Syafiuddin Kartasasmita.
Bagir said on July 18, the court's plenary meeting had promoted Syafiuddin to the position. Last Saturday however four gunmen shot dead the judge on his way to office.
"But as Pak Syafiuddin was killed last week, we replaced him with Pak Benjamin," Bagir told reporters at his office.
According to Bagir, the team comprises three Justices, -- Syafiuddin, Benjamin and Justice Ridwan Ka'bah. But following Syafiuddin's death, Justice Said Harahap was placed in the team.
"I hope the decree appointing Pak Benjamin and Pak Said will be issued within two to three days," Bagir said.
Based on Law No. 26/2000 on human rights tribunals, the Supreme Court is mandated with appointing ad hoc judges to try the mass killings that followed the self-determination referendum in East Timor in August 1999 and the Tanjung Priok incident in 1984.
Early this month, coordinating minister for political, social, and security affairs Agum Gumelar revealed that the probe on a number of Indonesian Military (TNI) officers over their alleged involvement in the gross human rights violations in East Timor would continue.
The investigation is being conducted in response to the request of the UN-sanctioned Commission of Truth and Reconciliation, which was formed in the former Indonesian province on June 20.
The government had set up a special team, comprising officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General's Office. The team halted its work after the death of then attorney general Baharuddin Lopa earlier this month.
"The investigation into the human rights violations will continue, even though Pak Syafiuddin, who was known for his resolve to examine the cases, has died," Bagir said.
A joint probe conducted by state prosecutors has named three high-ranking military officers as suspects. They are former Bali- based Udayana Military Commander, Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri and the former East Timor Military Commanders, Brig. Gen. Tono Suratman and Col. Noer Muis. However, none of these officers have been sent to trial.
Bagir further disclosed that junior chief justice for military court Geerman H. Hupojo would handle Syafiuddin's day-to-day tasks pending the election of the new junior chief justice for crime.
"It takes some time to appoint a junior chief justice as we need the approval of the President," Bagir said.
Separately, city police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Adang Rochjana disclosed on Monday that police were focusing their investigations into four particular court cases Syafiuddin had handled as a judge.
He identified them as cases linked to former president Soeharto, Soeharto's son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, Soeharto's golf buddy, Muhammad "Bob" Hasan and the Djoko Tjandra Bank Bali scam.
"We believe Syafiuddin was killed as an act of vengeance. This was clearly premeditated murder. We are also basing our belief, on the testimonies of a number of judges, about this murder," Adang told reporters. (ylt/tso)