Trial of judges to begin on Thursday

JAKARTA (JP): The trial of Supreme Court judges Supraptini Sutarto and Marnis Kahar, charged with accepting bribes, is scheduled to be opened on Thursday by the Central Jakarta District Court.

Judge Andi Samson Nganro of the Central Jakarta District Court, who will one of the judges handling the case, said on Monday that it would be presided over by Judge Rusdi As'ad.

"The other one trying the case will be Judge Musa Simatupang," Andi told reporters on Monday.

Retired Supreme Court judge Yahya Harahap, along with Supraptini and Marnis, were reported to the Joint Anticorruption Team (TGPTPK) by a "case broker", Endin Wahyudin.

Yahya is being tried in a separate bribery case.

Endin had earlier alleged that Yahya had received Rp 96 million, while the other two justices had accepted Rp 50 million each.

Supraptini and Marnis, however, filed a complaint with the police, who later charged Endin with defamation.

As a result, Endin is now being tried for slander, even though he has been admitted to the witness protection program run by the Attorney General's Office.

In response to Yahya's earlier testimonies in court, Endin insisted that he had given Rp 96 million to Yahya. (ylt)