Review sought of Advocates Law

JAKARTA: A bar association and nine lawyers filed on Monday a petition for a judicial review of a number of articles of Law No. 18/2003 on the advocate's profession with the newly established Constitutional Court.

The Indonesian Lawyers and Human Rights Defense Association (APHI) and other plaintiffs objected to article 2 (1) of the law, which allow graduates of military and police law schools to pursue careers as lawyers.

APHI chairman Dorma Sinaga said the legislation contradicted article 24 of the Constitution, which guaranteed a free and independent judiciary.

"The graduates of military and police law schools only learn about those aspects of our legal system that directly affect them," he said after filing the petition.

The Constitutional Court has registered more than 15 requests for judicial reviews of controversial legislation since its establishment in mid-August. -- JP