Judicial Commission Investigates Bali Nine Bribery Allegation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Judicial Commission (Commission) has begun its investigation on a bribery allegation involving the panle of judges responsible for the Bali Nine case in 2006. During the preliminary investigation, the Commission has summoned Todung Mulya Lubis, lawyer of the Bali Nine duo, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumuran, as the plaintiff.

"This is a preliminary investigation in relation to the bribery allegation involving the panel of judges during the trial of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumuran in Bali on 2006," said Imam Anshori Saleh, a member of the Commission on Monday, May 11, 2015.

Imam said that the investigation on Todung was conducted to confirm the bribery allegation and possible breaches of the judge code of ethic. According to Imam, Todung has some strong evidence to support the allegation.

"But I cannot reveal what are the evidence, it's still confidential," Imam said. "The evidence will be kept for further investigation."

Imam explained that although both Chan and Sukumaran have been executed, judges that were responsible for the two suspects' trial can still be brought to court if the allegation is proven to be true.

Recently, the Australian government brought up suspicion that there has been a bribery involving judges of the Bali Nine case in 2006. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had urged the Indonesian government to investigate the suspicion before executing Chan and Sukumuran. Bishop argued that investigation on the case is one of the legal rights of the Bali Nine duo.

REZA ADITYA