The Supreme Court puzzle

The Supreme Court puzzle

The puzzle at the Supreme Court has finally been answered.
Supreme Court chairman Soerjono, after a meeting with President
Soeharto Monday explained that no proof of collusion was found in
the highest judicial institution. According to Soerjono, the
rumor of a Rp. 1.4 billion bribe -- which was initially raised
by the Supreme Court's deputy chairman for cases of general
criminal law, Adi Andojo Soetjipto, and taken up by the printed
and electronic media -- originated from an unverified anonymous
letter.

The conclusion, based on investigations conducted by the
coordinator of special control, appears to answer all the riddles
plaguing this elevated judicial institution. As it turns out,
however, the answers have created new riddles. The conclusion
does not question what was wrong with Adi, the Supreme Court
justice who was unwavering in exposing the misbehavior among his
colleagues and who was then barred from speaking to the press?

Either Adi is being victimized or he is indeed guilty. By his
admission he is greatly disappointed with the result of the
investigation. According to Adi, clear and transparent proof of
collusion is easily found. The finding of innocence in the
Supreme Court could encourage further collusion among judges and
outsiders. Some observers fear that the finding is not objective.
The problem is that the investigation was conducted by an agency
of the Supreme Court itself. An independent investigation might
have come up with a more neutral finding.

The public sees many cases in which the Supreme Court appears
unhealthy. The critical capabilities of individuals like Adi
should not be destroyed by this finding, which was endorsed by
the Supreme Court's chairman. We hope people will not become
afraid to speak the truth because of this conclusion.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta