Reorganization of Supreme Court urged

Reorganization of Supreme Court urged

JAKARTA (JP): Legal observers hailed President Abdurrahman
Wahid's plan to expel corrupt judges from Jakarta's judicial
system but suggested the leader first help reorganize the Supreme
Court.

Bambang Widjoyanto and Amir Syamsuddin said separately on
Friday that the President's idea was admirable but would be
useless and "too premature" if the government made no significant
changes to the Supreme Court, the highest judicial body in the
country.

"This institution is the last bastion of the law. The
country's efforts to enforce the law depends on the quality of
the (people placed in this) body," said Bambang, the chairman of
the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI).

A day earlier, the President told a visiting business
delegation from the Netherlands that he would replace allegedly
corrupt judges in the capital's five district courts with honest
ones in a bid to create legal certainty for investors.

The remarks came amid growing concerns aired by the public,
particularly foreign investors, over a lack of transparency in
the country's judicial system.

Bambang urged the House of Representatives to take the
initiative to reorganize and put in order the function of the
Supreme Court.

"The House must accelerate the election of a new chairman of
the institution, including its judges. It is aimed at removing
officials who may hamper the government's drive to combat
corruption in the country's legal system," he said.

After the reorganization, the institution, which controls the
performance of judges at all district courts, can help further
the drive to combat corruption among judges, he said.

Article 8 of the 1985 Judicial Power Law stipulates that
Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President, based on a
list of candidates proposed by the House.

Several decisions ruled by the Supreme Court have often been
controversial, and tarnished the image of the court.

"The Supreme Court also has the authority to supervise the
quality and good conduct of judges. But it has not done it
properly," a noted lawyer, Amir, said.

He insisted that not all lawyers in Jakarta were corrupt.

But, he added, corruption in the courts here developed rapidly
due to the lack of stern measures by the Supreme Court.

Amir reminded Abdurrahman and his administration not to
interfere in the judicial system.

"It's the authority of the Supreme Court to supervise the
judges whether they are capable or not to perform their tasks,"
he said.

Another legal observer, Romli Atmasasmita, who is also the
director general of law and legislation, urged the House to form
an independent anticorruption body to deal with corruption among
judges.

"The independent commission would have the task of auditing
the wealth of judges. If a judge is known to have committed
corruption, the commission could propose that the Supreme Court
dismiss them," he said on Friday. (asa)