Kraksaan district court judge dismissed by the Supreme Court for neglecting wife and child

A Kraksaan District Court judge, seconded to the Surabaya High Court, DD, was dismissed after it was proven that he neglected his wife and child. The dismissal decision was announced in a hearing of the Judicial Ethics Council (MKH).

The hearing was held by the Supreme Court (MA) together with the Judicial Commission at the MA building in Jakarta on Monday, 2 March 2026. DD was also found to have falsified information and his wife’s personal data in relation to a divorce.

‘We impose a heavy sanction on the respondent in the form of permanent dismissal with pension rights,’ said Desmihardi, Deputy Chairman of the Judicial Commission who presided over the MKH panel, reading the verdict as seen on the KY website on 4 March.

DD reportedly sent money only four times and provided just one transfer per year to his wife and children from 2017 to 2020. He was judged as irresponsible and to have failed to uphold the authority and dignity of a judge in family life. DD has defended himself and denied the charges.

In his defence, supported by IKAHI, DD claimed to continue regularly providing maintenance for the children. He said he still frequently met with his youngest child who lived with his wife. The eldest child had also lived with DD before he was reassigned.

In addition to neglecting his wife and child, DD allegedly deliberately falsified his wife’s personal information and altered population data. He used a ‘Surat Keterangan Ghaib’ in the divorce petition to expedite the divorce process. He also falsified the family card (KK) data to include both children in the KK, despite the court ruling not specifying which party should have custody.

DD argued that he did this to protect the children’s future. The defence presented by DD and IKAHI was rejected.

The verdict includes a dissenting opinion. Two MKH members, Achmad Setyo Pudjoharsoyo and Noor Edi Yono, proposed a demotion.

MKH members include Deputy Chair Desmihardi as the panel chair, together with KY members Andi Muhammad Asrun, Abhan, and Anita Kadir. From the MA, the panel was represented by Justice Nani Indrawati, Achmad Setyo Pudjoharsoyo, and Noor Edi Yono.