Only 17 candidates pass justice test
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)