New Chief Justice vows to clean up Supreme Court

JAKARTA (JP): New Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan pledged on Wednesday to clean up the notoriously corrupt judiciary, promising to investigate bribery allegations that have been leveled against at least 50 justices and judges.

Bagir said he would begin working on investigating these allegations within the next few weeks, following the establishment of the Court's supervisory body. He said he was also awaiting a report from the National Ombudsman Commission on the bribery allegations.

"(Working on) the report will be one of our priorities," he said after installing Marianna Sutadi as head of the supervisory body and Syamsulhadi as the deputy chief justice for Islamic courts.

Former Supreme Court chief justice Sarwata and secretary- general Pranowo are among those caught up in the bribery allegations.

Bagir said the supervisory body was being established to monitor the everyone working in the courts, including justices, judges, clerks and administrative employees.

"The body will have the power to punish all court personnel," he said, adding that the public would be encouraged to report corrupt judges to the body.

Bagir admitted the Supreme Court had numerous problems that had to be addressed, including its financial management, human resources and the speed at which it heard cases, acknowledging the many complaints from the public of the Court's perceived sluggishness.

He estimates that there are currently thousands of cases waiting to be heard.

Commenting on speculation that the Supreme Court would play a key role in settling conflicts surround the 2004 general election, Bagir said he would refuse to become involved in politics.

"We are a judicial body, we do not give opinions on politics. Do not drag us into a battle for power, of political elites," he said.

"But we can settle legal problems resulting from the conflict," he said. "We have to stay impartial and free from political interests."

Bagir also said he respected Muladi's decision to resign his position as a Supreme Court justice, saying that he could do nothing to persuade Muladi to remain on the court.

"I have to admit that we need him, but I have to respect his decision. What else can I do?" Bagir said.

The House of Representatives nominated Muladi and Bagir last year for the top post at the Supreme Court, but President Abdurrahman Wahid earlier refused both nominations, saying both men had served under the New Order regime.

Bagir was the director general of laws and regulations and Muladi was the minister of justice during former president Soeharto's New Order regime.

Muladi had said if he was not appointed chief justice he would not sit on the Supreme Court. (bby)