Oetojo admits legal abuses in judicial system
<p>Oetojo admits legal abuses in judicial system</p><p> JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman admits that
there are many abuses of legal authority at the court level but
scolds critics who make mafia comparisons.</p><p>"There is no mafia in the judiciary system. But it's true to
say that some law enforcers are erratic," he told journalists in
Bandar Lampung, southern Sumatra, on Saturday.</p><p>He argued that the term 'mafia' refers to organized crime with
widespread networks. "Now, does such a network exist to undermine
the Indonesian judiciary system?" he said.</p><p>Oetojo was making his first public comment on the debate
sparked by former deputy chief justice Zaenal Asikin last week.
Asikin alleged that power was so systematically abused that the
justice system was like a business controlled by a 'mafia' of
court officials.</p><p>Asikin also alleged that bribery was a standard practice here
and that up to 50 percent of all Indonesian judges took bribes.
His blunt allegation has prompted the Supreme Court to plan an
investigation into the matter.</p><p>Asikin sprang to prominence when, just a few month before his
retirement this year, he made a risky decision in favor of
villagers in Kedungombo, Central Java, in their multi-million
dollar legal suit against the government. His verdict, however,
was later overturned by the Chief Justice.</p><p>Oetojo questioned how Asikin came up with his theory that half
of Indonesia's judges took bribes and arranged court decisions
with lawyers and clients.</p><p>"Where does the '50 percent' come from?" he was quoted by the
Antara news agency as saying, conceding that there were practices
in the judiciary system "that must be corrected".</p><p>According to Oetojo, there are "complex problems" which have
to be resolved before the image of the judiciary system can be
improved, as the public has increasingly demanded.</p><p>The minister called on the public to refrain from emotionally
criticizing the legal system and to instead contribute to
rebuilding the public trust.</p><p>"We must see to it that the judiciary system is still
respected. If not, this could push people to take the law into
their own hands when settling their disputes," he said.</p><p>He pointed out that many Indonesian laws needed revising
because they were no longer in conformity with the current public
demand for justice and legal certainty.</p><p>Many Indonesian laws were made during the Dutch colonial era.
The government and the House of Representatives (DPR) have
planned to review them.</p><p>Indonesia has yet to make laws in business fields, such as for
capital markets, and update those on intellectual property rights
and patents, he said.</p><p>The laws on intellectual property rights and patents were
passed in 1992 but already need urgent revisions largely due to
the rapid progress in global technology, he said.</p><p>"Many laws have yet to be made or revised in line with our
economic and technological progress," he said. "Unless Indonesia
looks to distant future, the legal system will lag far behind
other countries." (pan)</p>
there are many abuses of legal authority at the court level but
scolds critics who make mafia comparisons.</p><p>"There is no mafia in the judiciary system. But it's true to
say that some law enforcers are erratic," he told journalists in
Bandar Lampung, southern Sumatra, on Saturday.</p><p>He argued that the term 'mafia' refers to organized crime with
widespread networks. "Now, does such a network exist to undermine
the Indonesian judiciary system?" he said.</p><p>Oetojo was making his first public comment on the debate
sparked by former deputy chief justice Zaenal Asikin last week.
Asikin alleged that power was so systematically abused that the
justice system was like a business controlled by a 'mafia' of
court officials.</p><p>Asikin also alleged that bribery was a standard practice here
and that up to 50 percent of all Indonesian judges took bribes.
His blunt allegation has prompted the Supreme Court to plan an
investigation into the matter.</p><p>Asikin sprang to prominence when, just a few month before his
retirement this year, he made a risky decision in favor of
villagers in Kedungombo, Central Java, in their multi-million
dollar legal suit against the government. His verdict, however,
was later overturned by the Chief Justice.</p><p>Oetojo questioned how Asikin came up with his theory that half
of Indonesia's judges took bribes and arranged court decisions
with lawyers and clients.</p><p>"Where does the '50 percent' come from?" he was quoted by the
Antara news agency as saying, conceding that there were practices
in the judiciary system "that must be corrected".</p><p>According to Oetojo, there are "complex problems" which have
to be resolved before the image of the judiciary system can be
improved, as the public has increasingly demanded.</p><p>The minister called on the public to refrain from emotionally
criticizing the legal system and to instead contribute to
rebuilding the public trust.</p><p>"We must see to it that the judiciary system is still
respected. If not, this could push people to take the law into
their own hands when settling their disputes," he said.</p><p>He pointed out that many Indonesian laws needed revising
because they were no longer in conformity with the current public
demand for justice and legal certainty.</p><p>Many Indonesian laws were made during the Dutch colonial era.
The government and the House of Representatives (DPR) have
planned to review them.</p><p>Indonesia has yet to make laws in business fields, such as for
capital markets, and update those on intellectual property rights
and patents, he said.</p><p>The laws on intellectual property rights and patents were
passed in 1992 but already need urgent revisions largely due to
the rapid progress in global technology, he said.</p><p>"Many laws have yet to be made or revised in line with our
economic and technological progress," he said. "Unless Indonesia
looks to distant future, the legal system will lag far behind
other countries." (pan)</p>