Makassar High Court Judge Dismissed for Accepting Rp1 Billion Bribe

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Judge at Makassar High Court (previously at Sengkang District Court) with initials YM was dismissed dishonourably for proven receipt of a bribe. The decision was made by the Judicial Ethics Council (MKH), convened by the Supreme Court (MA) and the Judicial Commission (KY).

The ruling was handed down after the defendant, YM, was proven to have accepted a Rp1 billion bribe to secure a cassation case victory and borrowed Rp90 million from the complainant without repayment. YM was found to have violated Joint Regulation No. 02/PB/MA/IX/2012-02/PB/P.KY/09/2012 on the Code of Ethics and Conduct Guidelines for Judges, classified as a serious breach.

“Therefore, a severe penalty has been imposed on the defendant in the form of dishonourable dismissal,” said MKH Presiding Judge Yanto in a statement on Tuesday (26 May 2026).

The transactional practice began with a meeting between YM and the complainant in March 2024, during which YM promised and agreed to secure a victory at the Supreme Court.

However, after six transfers totaling Rp1 billion and a single loan of Rp90 million to YM’s bank account, the complainant discovered YM had not handled the case as promised. This was confirmed as the case registration number and panel of judges listed in the MA’s SIPP system did not match YM’s claims to the complainant.

“As a result, the complainant reported the matter to Makassar High Court, Makassar Police Department, MA’s Oversight Body (Bawas), and the Judicial Commission,” Yanto said.

The council questioned the defendant on efforts made to handle the case at the Supreme Court. YM admitted to doing nothing, stating he only went to Jakarta to reassure the complainant but did not visit the Supreme Court or anywhere else.

Before the council, YM admitted he was incapable of handling the cassation case and confessed to agreeing to manage it due to urgent financial needs.