Supreme Court shows determination to judicial reform

Jakarta | Badilag.net/english (16/9/09)

Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia is closely watching its personnel and shows no doubt to follow up any public complaints and further punish its staff, especially judges who have been found guilty of misusing power and violating code of conduct.

After releasing 60 names of officials and staff receiving punishment a month ago, the Supreme Court and Judicial Commission for the first time publicly presented Tuesday (15/9) a session of a Judge Honor Assembly (Majelis Kehormatan Hakim) aimed to hear pleas from Sudiarto, former Chief Judge of Banjarmasin District Court.

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Sudiarto, according to Supervision Body of the Supreme Court, has been found guilty of violating judge’s code of conduct. The Supreme Court then recommended Sudiarto’s permanent dismissal from his job as a judge.

However, to ensure fairness as required by Law, any judge has the right to plead him/herself in front of an assembly before receiving final decision. The assembly will then examine whether or not he/she is proved guilty.

Deputy Chief Justice for Supervision, H. M. Hatta Ali presided over the assembly which comprised two members from the Supreme Court and four others from the Judicial Commission. Law No. 3/2009 on the Supreme Court stipulates that Judge Honor Assembly consists of 7 persons; 3 from the Court and the rest from the Judicial Commission.

The Tuesday assembly’s session failed to reach a final decision since the accused did not appear due to health reason. The hearing adjourned until September 29 for delivering judgment.

H. Abdul Kadir Mappong, Vice Chief Justice for Judicial Affairs previously said sessions of the Assembly had to be transparent and open for public as a lesson for other judges so as not to commit any violation of judge’s codes of ethics.

This open session should be a proof for public that the Supreme Court and its lower courts put judicial reform as a top priority to uphold law and justice in Indonesia. (cho)