Otto Hasibuan: Advocates Must Be Intelligent and Honest
JAKARTA – Deputy Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Services, as well as Chairman of the Indonesian Advocates Association (Peradi), Otto Hasibuan, emphasised honesty as the primary key to practising the advocate profession.
“The main recipe for an advocate is to be intelligent and honest,” said Otto in his statement in Jakarta on Saturday.
The statement was made while providing guidance to 411 new advocates from Central Java at Sultan Agung Islamic University (Unissula) in Semarang.
Otto said that Peradi would continue to enhance the quality and professionalism of advocates through various ongoing programmes.
He reminded that the quality and integrity of advocates greatly determine the protection of clients as seekers of justice.
“If advocates do not improve their quality and do not uphold honesty, then the ones who suffer are the public,” he stated.
He affirmed that honesty and professional ethics must be the foundation in carrying out duties as an advocate, including being honest to the law and clients.
In addition, Otto also emphasised that the concept of a single advocate organisation (single bar) is mandated by the Advocates Law, where Peradi has the authority in organising special professional advocate education (PKPA) up to the appointment of advocates.
“Only Peradi has that authority,” he said.
On that occasion, Otto also reminded the advocates to understand the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) and Criminal Code (KUHP).
“I hope the advocates can study them earnestly,” he said.
The guidance activity was continued with a national seminar titled The Role of Advocates in Law Enforcement and Justice Based on the New KUHAP, attended by 726 in-person participants and 1,296 online participants, featuring three speakers.
Professor of Criminal Law at the Faculty of Law, Diponegoro University, Prof. Dr. Pujiyono, S.H., M.Hum., as the first speaker, stated that the new KUHAP does not only resolve criminal matters through courts.