Want a divorce? Beware of brokers

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)