Suspects released in Aceh due to shorage of judges

Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

A number of suspected criminals in Aceh have been released because of the shortages of judges in a number of district courts in the restive province.

In Lhokseumawe, two criminals suspected of trafficking marijuana were released after being detained for 120 days, the maximum detention period permitted by law, while in Banda Aceh, a number of criminals were also freed for the same reason.

Said Rusli, acting chief of Lhokseumawe prison, said the detention of the two criminals could no longer be extended because of the shortage of judges in the district court.

He said the district court had only one judge and he himself could not try crimes without the presence of a panel of judges.

Hendarmin, chief of Banda Aceh penitentiary, said many suspects had been released because the district court had only five judges and their number was not proportionate with the accumulation of cases in the provincial capital.

He added that the situation in other regencies was the same, as many judges had taken refuge or had moved to other provinces for security reasons because of the prolonged conflict.

According to data at the Banda Aceh Higher Court, the province has 20 district courts and only 29 judges -- five in Banda Aceh, seven in Sabang, five in Jantho, two each in Takengon, Kutacane and Sinabang and one each in Lhokseumauwe, Lhoksukon, Singkil and Blangkajeren. The district courts in Idi, Kuala Simpang and Tapaktuan have no judges.

Teuku N. Lutfi, chief of the prosecutor's office in the city, said the criminals were released or their arrest was suspended if they agreed that they would not commit similar crimes, would not damage material evidence and would stay permanently in the province.

Some 15 detainees sent to Lhokseumawe prison for disturbing law and order were not released because of a decree from the Supreme Court that they be moved to Banda Aceh prison to stand trial in Banda Aceh District Court in the near future.

Lutfi also said that his office could not work at maximum capacity because of the shortage of prosecutors in the province.

He declined to elaborate on the distribution of judges in the province's regencies.

"We regret that we cannot work at maximum capacity because of the volatile security conditions," he said.