Screening of graft court judges passes almost unnoticed
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta
The proposed ad hoc corruption tribunal is intended to be the last resort for justice in connection with the country's sluggish corruption eradication moves, but selection of its judges on Saturday failed to attract much public attention.
When the Supreme Court started interviewing judges last Friday -- a process open to the public -- only a few people witnessed the session.
Those who watched the screening on Friday were several journalists, an activist from the Judiciary Observers Coalition (KPP) and a representative of the Partnership for Governance Reform.
On Saturday, only one journalist and a KPP activist remained. No representatives of anticorruption non-governmental organizations (NGOs), law enforcement agencies, advocates or academics were present at the session.
KPP member Rifqi Sjarief Assegaf and Partnership director Mas Ahmad Santosa were among 16 members of the selection team.
The condition was very different from the selection of the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which occupied the headlines of major media for days.
"The NGOs might have been apathetic ... They are also currently focusing their energy on the presidential election," said Asep Rahmat Fajar, who heads the KPP.
He said that people might also have been disappointed at the country's half-hearted, anticorruption movement.
Despite mounting public pressure, the House of Representatives (DPR) dismissed KPK candidates known for their integrity and commitment to fighting corruption.
The quality of the candidate judges was so unsatisfactory that several members of the selection team are now considering the reselection of candidates.
"None of the candidates meets the criteria: One confessed that he would accept gifts, for whatever reason. Another tolerated bribery.
"I think we should make another selection so people with integrity may apply," said Justice Abdurrahman Saleh, a member of the selection panel.
Supreme Court secretary-general Gunanato Suryono also voiced the same complaint.
"I don't think we can meet the quota. We shall select only the quality candidates," he said.
The Supreme Court, in cooperation with the Partnership, is seeking a total of 16 justices at district court, high court and Supreme Court levels to sit on the corruption tribunal.
As many as 12 career judges were earlier selected to sit on the tribunals, to be established at the Central Jakarta District Court.
So far, the Supreme Court has interviewed 15 candidates. Five were for the high court level while the remainder applied for the district level.
The first five are retired judge Jamiara Sidabutar, lecturer Abdurrahman Hasan, advocate As'adi Al Ma'ruf, policeman-turned- advocate Parlindungan Sinaga and lecturer Sudiro.
The others are M. Ali Hasan, Saharuddin Satar, Dudu Duswara Machmudin, Kusnu Goesniadhie Slamet, Saut Irianto Rajagukguk, M. Achmad Linoh, Hendra Yospin, I Made Hendra Kusuma, Salfen Saragih and Su'ud Badjeber.
Most have had no previous, direct involvement with anticorruption activities.
The corruption tribunal requires clean and sharp-minded judges, as they will deal with corruption cases that cost the state Rp 1 billion or more.
The planned tribunal is part of the KPK, which has been granted authority to investigate and prosecute corruption cases.
The KPK is not permitted to halt an investigation once it has planned to take a case to court.
The state issued the policy as police and prosecutors often halted or postponed corruption cases, mostly high-profile ones, with inadequate justification.