Want a divorce? Beware of brokers

SURABAYA, East Java (JP): The increasing number of divorce cases has given rise to middlemen, who offer services to those who want to bypass formal, arduous administrative procedures.

Brokers, roaming the offices of the religious court, promise divorcing couples that they can arrange the procedures easily with court officials, so long as the couple can afford to pay.

"The provincial high court office has just received reports on a number of falsified divorce documents," chief of the East Java High Court, Zulkifli Rachman, said yesterday, reported Antara.

The collusion between brokers and court officials came to light recently after a woman complained to the Surabaya religious court because her husband had never mentioned anything about divorcing her.

In addition, she said she has never signed the document legalizing the divorce, Rachman said.

"In passing, the documents seem authentic. But later it was found that even the judge's signature was falsified," he said.

He said her claim prompted an investigation into the matter, which found that she was only one of the many spouses who have the same problem. (pan)