On a day when he should have been celebrating, a flustered Supreme Court Chief Justice Bagir Manan was instead doing his best to escape a media ambush Thursday.
He was bombarded with questions about the trial of Harini Wiyoso – a lawyer who claims to have bribed Bagir on behalf of her client, tycoon Probosutedjo – after his swearing-in ceremony for a second term at the State Palace.
His face reddened as journalists hounded him about the stalemate in Harini's trial, where three judges staged a walkout early this month to protest the presiding judge's refusal to call the chief justice to testify about her claims.
Ironically, the request came from prosecutors of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), but Bagir received warm congratulations from KPK chief Taufiequrrahman Ruki.
"Let the judges solve the problem themselves. Give them a chance. The Supreme Court doesn't want to meddle in the problem because it is still at the court level," Bagir told journalists.
He also was evasive when asked if he would testify if summoned by the court.
"That's another problem," he said as he tried to walk and push journalists aside to elude further questions about the case.
Bagir tried to pick up the pace a bit to lose the pack of journalists, impatiently flicking away a tape recorder put close to his face.
He was elected to a second term in office on May 2 when he received 44 of the 47 valid votes cast by the Supreme Court justices. Critics derided the show of support for the controversial Bagir as a new low in the country's checkered judicial history.
Elected chief justice in 2001, Bagir's term was due to expire Thursday when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 for justices, but last July he extended the age to 67.
He presided over the controversial acquittal of former House speaker Akbar Tandjung in a graft case, despite his conviction by two lower courts, and also cut the prison term of former president Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, who was convicted of ordering the murder of a judge. – JP/Tony Hotland