Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The Judicial Commission (KY) says judge Muhammad Daming Sunusi, who made headlines on Tuesday after making a controversial "rape joke", is unfit to be a Supreme Court justice as the commission is currently studying whether or not he has breached the code of ethics.
"Of course [he is not fit]. Consciously or unconsciously, a judge, especially a potential Supreme Court justice, should be fully aware while making any statement. He cannot carelessly say something [like that]," commission chairman Eman Suparman said recently.
Commission spokesperson Asep Rahmat Fajar confirmed on Wednesday that Daming came to his office on Tuesday to undergo questioning on ethics, saying that the latter apologized to the commission during the examination.
Asep said the commission would soon to deliver its conclusion as to whether Daming had violated the judicial code of ethics. Should the commission find against him, Daming may face penalties or other sanctions.
"The possibility of [Daming] receiving a severe penalty is still there. Yet, a severe penalty or dismissal can only be imposed through a hearing of a panel of ethics. The panel will comprise the Judicial Commission and the Supreme Court," Asep said.
Choky Ramadhan from University of Indonesia's Indonesian Judicial Watch Society (MAPPI), which is also part of the Judiciary Watchdog Coalition, slammed the commission for recommending Daming in the first place.
"We gave them the Daming's track record, along with the track records of other candidates in 2011. They ruled out the facts," he said, adding that "we want the commission not to recommend those second-time candidates with bad track records."
According to the coalition's data for the 2011 selection process, Daming had a fancy lifestyle and used different private cars to go to office instead of using an official vehicle. He also concealed his real address in the curriculum vitae he submitted to the Judicial Commission in 2011, the coalition said.
The commission would be extra careful in selecting candidates in the future, Eman said.
During Monday's fit and proper test at the House of Representatives, Daming made an insensitive statement when asked about what he thought about the death penalty for rapists. He insinuated that both the rapist and the victim enjoyed the encounter, thus, rapists did not deserve such a heavy sentence.
Daming later held a press conference to deliver a public apology a day after his initial statement had sparked public outrage. (swd)