'Money and power often still prevail' in Indonesian courts

'Money and power often still prevail' in Indonesian courts

JAKARTA (JP): Former deputy chief justice Adi Andojo lamented
the state of Indonesian courts on Wednesday, saying that money
and power often still prevailed over justice.

At a discussion on Wednesday night at the University of
Indonesia, Adi was quoted by Antara as saying "one factor why
cases are so piled up at the Supreme Court is that it is a
deliberate means to extort money" from parties wanting their
cases processed.

Adi, who retired in May last year after serving 18 years as
deputy chief justice and is now dean of Trisakti University's law
school, has made headlines for his accusations of widespread
collusion within the Supreme Court.

Only a sense of dedication, professionalism and integrity from
the judges can restore the state of the courts, he argued.

During the talk, organized by the university, Adi also said
that judges were not independent and that there was no clear
separation between the legislative, executive and judiciary
branches in the government.

Judges often move to remote places if they rule against the
government, he said.

Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Judges (IKAHI)
Paulus Effendie Lotulung pointed out earlier this month that
judges were very much under the authority of government
institutions.

Paulus, who is one of the Supreme Court's deputy chief
justices, said the status of judges as civil servants forces them
to be loyal to the government, eroding their independence.

He echoed numerous calls that the 1970 law on judicial power
be amended. Article 11 of the law stipulates that courts are
under the Ministry of Justice.

Ministry of Justice legal expert Romli Atmasasmita,
representing Justice Minister Muladi at the talks, said the
ministry was still studying whether the 1970 law should be
amended.

Last year, Adi received the Sahardjo Award from the Defenders
for Indonesian Democracy (TPDI), a team of lawyers for ousted
leader Megawati Soekarnoputri's faction of the Indonesian
Democratic Party.

Adi was honored for his unflinching campaign for clean law
enforcement.

The award is named after the late Dr. Sahardjo, a national
hero known for his work on promoting human rights in the legal
system, and was presented to mark TPDI's first anniversary.

Adi is known for his uncompromising stance on the
implementation of justice and the fight against corruption in the
legal system.

One of his most famous decisions was exonerating labor leader
Muchtar Pakpahan from subversion charges. But the ruling was
quickly overturned by his Supreme Court colleagues. (byg)