KY Reveals Trends in Judge Violations: Bribery, Gambling, and Infidelity
The Judicial Commission (KY) has uncovered a range of violations of the code of ethics committed by judges in 2026. Beyond breaches in case handling, judges have also been involved in bribery, online gambling, extramarital affairs and harassment.
Abhan, Head of the KY’s Judge Supervision and Investigation Division, said 121 judges were proven to have violated the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Judicial Conduct (KEPPH) throughout 2026. The KY revealed that several judges committed ethical breaches in case handling, manipulating rulings and misjudging evidence.
“These are the types of KEPPH violations. Regarding KEPPH violations, 94 judges breached procedural law, covering case administration and court session administration, manipulation of rulings or changes to facts established at trial, carelessness in drafting rulings, errors in assessing evidence, legal reasoning and trial facts, misapplication of the law, violations of the principle of impartiality, executions carried out contrary to execution orders, and deviant conduct during court proceedings,” Abhan said at a press conference at the KY building in Jakarta on Thursday (30/7/2026).
Abhan said 10 judges committed irregularities in case handling. He said those 10 judges met with parties to a case outside of court, requested or accepted money from litigants, and intervened with judicial panels to influence rulings.
“A total of 7 judges engaged in deviant conduct within the judiciary, such as arrogance, harassment of staff and manipulating attendance records,” he said.
The KY also recorded that bribery, adultery and gambling remain trends among judges’ violations. The KY revealed that 7 judges committed adultery, unregistered religious marriages, relationships outside of marriage and harassment of women. A further 2 breached integrity and abused their positions, such as holding concurrent professional posts and failing to comply with mandatory reporting of their wealth declarations (LHKPN).
“A total of 7 judges committed personal misconduct such as adultery, unregistered religious marriages, relationships outside of marriage, harassment of women, as well as breach of obligations. Two judges violated integrity and abused their positions, such as holding concurrent professional posts and failing to report their LHKPN, and 1 judge was involved in online gambling,” he said.
In addition, 8 judges have been referred to the Honourary Council of Judges (MKH) and have undergone hearings. Abhan said the KY and the Supreme Court held 7 MKH hearings in the first semester of 2026.
“The first MKH hearing was held for the reported judge DD, a judge at Kraksaan District Court seconded to Surabaya High Court, on 2 March 2026, with the sanction of permanent dismissal with pension rights after being proven to have abandoned his child and wife,” he said.
The second MKH hearing was held for the judge with initials LTS, a judicial judge at the Central Sulawesi High Court, and the judge with initials DW of Sabang District Court, who was proven to have committed adultery.
“LTS was sentenced to permanent dismissal with pension rights, and DW received a non-suspension sanction for 2 years,” he explained.
The third MKH hearing was held for the reported judge with initials AJK, a judicial judge at the Central Sulawesi High Court, on 10 March 2026. He was dismissed from his post as a judge for beating his child in 2023.
“Then the fourth MKH hearing was held on Monday, 25 May 2026 against the reported judge YM, a judicial judge at the Makassar High Court, previously at Sengkang District Court, who was dishonourably dismissed after being proven to have accepted bribes,” he said.
The fifth MKH hearing, on Monday 25 May 2026, was held for the judge with initials ASS, a high court judge at the Central Java High Court, previously at Cilacap District Court. He was sentenced to permanent dismissal with pension rights after being proven to have accepted bribes.
“The sixth MKH hearing was held on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 against the reported judge with initials IWS of Cilacap District Court, currently a judicial judge at the Central Java High Court, for being proven to have accepted bribes. He was therefore dismissed with pension rights,” he said.
“Finally, the judge with initials SW, a judicial judge at South Jakarta District Court and former Chief Judge of Kudus District Court, was dishonourably dismissed after being proven to have accepted Rp 2 billion and intervening in a case, at a hearing on Tuesday, 23 June 2026,” he said.