Justice Benjamin replaces murdered Syafiuddin
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)