Nivell Rayda – The Supreme Court has taken disciplinary action against 89 judicial officials, including the dismissal of 21 judges, in the first six months of the year, Supreme Court Judge Artidjo Alkostar said on Tuesday.
The Indonesian judicial system is notoriously corrupt, and critics say doubts about the country's legal framework is a major barrier against attracting badly needed foreign investment.
Artidjo, speaking during a discussion organized by the Judicial Commission in Jakarta, said the disciplinary action was part of efforts to eradicate graft.
He said a total of 45 judges had been sanctioned, including 21 dismissals, though he did not provide specific names or cases.
"Those who were fired were suspected of taking bribes from disputing parties," he said. "Those who were cautioned or received administrative sanctions mainly breached the code of conduct by interacting with one of the disputing parties and discussing their cases."
He said the Supreme Court had also dismissed 44 court clerks and other staff members for offenses such as leaking court documents or illicitly releasing confiscated goods.
The number of sanctions imposed on members of the judicial system from January to June this year has almost surpassed the number of sanctions imposed last year. In 2008, the court took action against 91 officials, including 38 judges.
The court data corroborates long-standing allegations of corruption inside the country's judiciary system. In a 2008 study by Transparency International Indonesia, 30 percent of respondents who had been through the legal system said they paid bribes to court officials and judges, for a staggering average sum of Rp 102 million ($10,300).
"We are reforming ourselves, by having no tolerance against misconduct," Artidjo said. "That's why we see an increase in the number of officials sanctioned for illegal actions."
He said the court was minimizing direct contact with disputing parties by setting up electronic systems. "In the future there won't be any more brokers in court," he said.
Busyro Muqoddas, a member of the Judicial Commission, said the legal process should be transparent. "Civil society could become the most effective external watchdog," he said.
"Everyone should be able to access court decisions, indictments and records, including the courts' financial statements."
Year after year, the Supreme Audit Agency has given the Supreme Court a "disclaimer" after their review. This indicates that the scope of an audit had to be curtailed because of accounting weaknesses or missing facts. Last year, the Ministry of Finance also discovered a number of undeclared accounts belonging to the court.
Chairman of Transparency International Indonesia, Todung Mulya Lubis, who is also a prominent lawyer, said with rampant corruption in courtrooms, people have lost their faith in the judicial system.
"The court must make a landmark decision, one that benefits the greater good of the people," Lubis said. "Only then will people trust and respect the court."