Jakarta – Greed, not necessity, is the motivating factor behind judges' acceptance of bribes in cases they handle, says a member of Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW).

"[Accepting] bribes these days is not based on necessity, but greed," ICW member Tama S. Langkun said Friday.

Tama made the comments after Central Jakarta District Court judge Syarifuddin was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday for allegedly accepting a Rp 250 million bribe from Punguh Wirawan, a curator from PT Skycamping Indonesia (PT SCI).

Tama added that the increase in judges' salaries needed be accompanied with a strengthening of internal and external monitoring mechanisms, as well as reward and punishment mechanisms.

The Syarifuddin case further mars the image of Indonesia's notoriously corrupt judicial system.

Tama further said that Syarifuddin should be punished seriously if found guilty of graft. "This will serve as a lesson and 'shock therapy' for other judges," he added, as reported by tribunnews.com.