New Chief Justice vows to clean up Supreme Court
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)