Wed, 19 Jul 2000

Only 17 candidates pass justice test

JAKARTA (JP): Sources said here on Tuesday that a House of Representatives working committee screening Supreme Court justice candidates had recommended only 17 of the 46 nominees, including former justice minister Muladi and Human Rights Commission member Benjamin Mangkoedilaga.

The low number of recommendations did not come as a surprise as the committee members, who screened the candidates in a marathon four-day session, had openly complained that most were unqualified to sit on the highest court in the land.

This has further highlighted as there are 20 vacant seats on the supreme court. The government will now have to submit a new list of candidates to fill the remaining seats.

"Out of the 17, nine are non-career judges while the remaining are career judges," a member of the committee, who asked not to be named, told The Jakarta Post here on Tuesday.

The nine non-career judges were identified as: lawyers Abdul Rahman Saleh, H. Muchsin, Muhamad Laica Marzuki, Rifyal Ka'bah; legal watchdog activist Artidjo Alkostar; lecturers Bagir Manan, Valerine Kriekhoff, Muladi and rights activist Benjamin Mangkoedilaga.

Career judges are: Andi Syamsu Alam, Edith Dumasi Tobing Nababan, M. Said Harahap, Mahjudin, Margana, H. Syamsuhadi, Chairani A. Wani and Abdul Kadir Mappong.

Muladi, who also briefly served as state secretary to former president B.J. Habibie, insisted during his screening on Monday that he would reject any post other than Supreme Court chief.

Former judge Benjamin, whose candidacy is supported by the government, made a name for himself in 1995 when he ruled in favor of then banned Tempo weekly in their suit against former president Soeharto's administration.

After the controversial verdict, Benjamin soon moved to State Administrative Provincial Court in Medan, North Sumatra and then ask for early retirement.

Separately, another committee member J.E. Sahetappy admitted that most candidates failed the screening on their moral integrity, Antara reported.

The recommendations will be brought to the consultation body of the People's Consultative Assembly for approval before a plenary session on Thursday. (bby)