Kraksaan District Court Judge Dismissed for Neglecting Wife and Child

The Honours Council of Judges (MKH) has imposed a severe sanction on DD, a judge of the Kraksaan District Court in Probolinggo who was seconded to the Surabaya High Court. The ruling was read at a hearing convened by the Judicial Commission together with the Supreme Court. Deputy Chairman Desmihardi, who presided over the panel, stated that DD had been proven to have violated the judge’s code of ethics by neglecting his wife and child and by falsifying his wife’s personal data in the divorce proceedings.

The panel declared that the respondent should be punished with permanent dismissal with pension rights. The hearing revealed that from 2017 to 2020, DD provided maintenance to his wife and child only four times, once a year, a conduct the panel described as irresponsible and a stain on the dignity of a judge in domestic life.

Furthermore, DD was found to have falsified his wife’s personal information by using a ‘Surat Keterangan Ghaib’ in the divorce case. He admitted to the act, arguing it was to speed up the divorce process.

In addition, DD altered the Family Card (KK) data by including both children in his KK, even though the court’s ruling did not contain any provision on child custody. He admitted to the act, claiming it was to protect his children’s future.

‘Terlapor DD terbukti melanggar sejumlah ketentuan dalam Surat Keputusan Bersama Ketua Mahkamah Agung RI dan Ketua Komisi Yudisial RI tentang Kode Etik dan Perilaku Hakim serta Peraturan Bersama MA dan KY tentang Panduan Penegakan Kode Etik dan Pedoman Perilaku Hakim,’ Desmihardi stated.

In his defence, supported by the professional body Ikatan Hakim Indonesia (IKAHI), DD denied neglecting his children. He asserted that he continued to provide maintenance and remained in contact with his children, including that his eldest child had lived with him before his transfer.

However, after deliberation, the panel rejected all defence arguments. There was a dissenting opinion from two panel members, Supreme Court Judge Achmad Setyo Pudjoharsoyo and Noor Edi Yono, who proposed a lighter sanction of demotion.