Jakarta – Legislators should not interfere with the authority of Constitutional Court judges on matters related to an ad-hoc human rights court, an expert witness told the Court on Monday.

Criminal code expert Arif Amrullah of the University of Jember in East Java said the authority of the House of Representatives did not extend to the criminal justice system.

"Any interference from the House would go against Article 24, clause 3, of the 1945 Constitution on the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court," said Arif, who was testifying at a judicial review requested by convicted human rights abuser Eurico Guterres.

Eurico had lodged a judicial review request at the Court over the 2000 law on the establishment of a human rights court.

He had also requested the Court abolish Article 43, clause 2, which states a human rights court is to be established based on the suggestion of the House and the endorsement of the President.

Guterres said the human rights court should be based on a law instead of a presidential decree. (JP/amr)