Otto: The key to success for advocates is intelligence and honesty
The main recipe for an advocate is to be intelligent and honest.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - 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 in practising the advocate profession.
“The main recipe for an advocate is to be intelligent and must be honest,” said Otto in his statement in Jakarta on Saturday.
The statement was delivered while providing training to 411 new advocates across Central Java at Sultan Agung Islamic University (Unissula), Semarang.
Otto said that Peradi will continue to enhance the quality and professionalism of advocates through various ongoing programmes.
“If advocates do not improve their quality and do not uphold honesty, then the ones who suffer are the public,” he stated.
He emphasised that honesty and professional ethics must serve as the foundation in carrying out duties as an advocate, including being honest to the law and clients.
In addition, Otto also stressed that the concept of a single advocate organisation (single bar) is mandated by the Advocates Law, where Peradi holds the authority for organising special professional advocate education (PKPA) up to the appointment of advocates.
“Only Peradi has that authority,” he said.
“I hope that the advocates can study it earnestly,” he added.
The training activity was followed by a national seminar titled The Role of Advocates in Law Enforcement and Justice Based on the New Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), attended by 726 in-person participants and 1,296 online participants, featuring three speakers.
“The basic idea comes from Article 132 Paragraph (1) letter g. In principle, the resolution of criminal cases outside the court can be used as one of the reasons for the termination of prosecutorial authority,” said Pujiyono.
“The position of advocates is elevated and their authority is expanded. Among other things, as law enforcers, advocates are explicitly mentioned in the KUHAP, Article 2,” he said.
Advocates are protected by immunity in carrying out their professional duties as long as they comply with the law and act in good faith.
“If we carry out our duties in good faith and in accordance with ethics, then we are safe, something like that. The Advocates Law also states that, Article 14,” he explained.