Lawyers violate code of ethics frequently: Survey
Lawyers violate code of ethics frequently: Survey
JAKARTA (JP): Most lawyers believe that code of ethics
violations are rampant among them, with bribery topping the list,
a recent survey reveals.
The survey, conducted by the Jakarta-based Center of
Indonesian Legal and Policies Studies (PSHKI) on 386 lawyers from
six cities in the country, concludes that nearly 90 percent of
respondents admitted to having knowledge of fellow lawyers'
misconduct.
Other commonplace offenses include conflicts of interest,
failure to uphold confidentiality, the hijacking of clients,
intimidating other lawyers and ignoring clients, according to the
survey.
The research, carried out between Nov. 10 and Dec. 30 last
year, also reveals that 376 of the respondents (97.4 percent)
still believe in the code of ethics to control lawyers.
However, most of the respondents believe that the existing
code of ethics is insufficient and needs amending due to lack of
control and sanctions.
The report, a copy of which was made available to The Jakarta
Post on Thursday, shows that almost half of the respondents
believe that the extensive ethics violations are getting out of
control because the honor board is ineffective.
Seventy lawyers admitted that they did not know anything about
the function of the honor board.
"We recommend that lawyers associations step up monitoring and
take strict actions against offenders and objectively review
cases on lawyers, such as the case relating to Juan Felix
Tampubolon," PSHKI executive director Ibrahim Sjarief Assegaf and
coordinator of the survey Binziad Kadafi conclude in the report.
Juan, a lawyer of former president Soeharto and the latter's
daughter-in-law Ardhia Pramesti Rigita "Tata" Cahyani, has been
accused of hampering police search for bunkers under the house of
Tata's husband, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, in Central Jakarta.
Police named Juan a suspect for allegedly lying about the
bunkers existence after the lawyer insisted that the underground
room was only a cellar.
Separately on Thursday, the Central Jakarta chapter of the
Indonesian Bar Association (Ikadin) heard clarification from
Juan, who is a member of Ikadin, concluding that he was innocent.
The chapter's chairman, John Pieter Nazar, said Juan requested
that the association not to make an official ruling, due to the
fact that he also received help from other lawyer associations
regarding the case.
"Our preliminary conclusion is that Juan did not abuse the law
nor violate our code of ethics. He should not be named a suspect.
Juan has done his job well as the lawyer of Tommy's wife, who has
been entrusted with the maintenance of the house," he said. (bby)
JAKARTA (JP): Most lawyers believe that code of ethics
violations are rampant among them, with bribery topping the list,
a recent survey reveals.
The survey, conducted by the Jakarta-based Center of
Indonesian Legal and Policies Studies (PSHKI) on 386 lawyers from
six cities in the country, concludes that nearly 90 percent of
respondents admitted to having knowledge of fellow lawyers'
misconduct.
Other commonplace offenses include conflicts of interest,
failure to uphold confidentiality, the hijacking of clients,
intimidating other lawyers and ignoring clients, according to the
survey.
The research, carried out between Nov. 10 and Dec. 30 last
year, also reveals that 376 of the respondents (97.4 percent)
still believe in the code of ethics to control lawyers.
However, most of the respondents believe that the existing
code of ethics is insufficient and needs amending due to lack of
control and sanctions.
The report, a copy of which was made available to The Jakarta
Post on Thursday, shows that almost half of the respondents
believe that the extensive ethics violations are getting out of
control because the honor board is ineffective.
Seventy lawyers admitted that they did not know anything about
the function of the honor board.
"We recommend that lawyers associations step up monitoring and
take strict actions against offenders and objectively review
cases on lawyers, such as the case relating to Juan Felix
Tampubolon," PSHKI executive director Ibrahim Sjarief Assegaf and
coordinator of the survey Binziad Kadafi conclude in the report.
Juan, a lawyer of former president Soeharto and the latter's
daughter-in-law Ardhia Pramesti Rigita "Tata" Cahyani, has been
accused of hampering police search for bunkers under the house of
Tata's husband, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, in Central Jakarta.
Police named Juan a suspect for allegedly lying about the
bunkers existence after the lawyer insisted that the underground
room was only a cellar.
Separately on Thursday, the Central Jakarta chapter of the
Indonesian Bar Association (Ikadin) heard clarification from
Juan, who is a member of Ikadin, concluding that he was innocent.
The chapter's chairman, John Pieter Nazar, said Juan requested
that the association not to make an official ruling, due to the
fact that he also received help from other lawyer associations
regarding the case.
"Our preliminary conclusion is that Juan did not abuse the law
nor violate our code of ethics. He should not be named a suspect.
Juan has done his job well as the lawyer of Tommy's wife, who has
been entrusted with the maintenance of the house," he said. (bby)