Seventeen Judges May Have Violated Ethical Code

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Judicial Commission has summoned 17 judges for their actions over the past three months. According to commission spokesperson, Asep Rahmat Fadjar, there are indications the judges have violated the ethical code. As many as 16 judges have clarified their actions, while the others were sanctioned, said Asep yesterday. Asep said there were 10 points that a judge must not violate, including being fair, honest, wise, responsible and professional. Asep did not name the 17 judges and refused to say where they were assigned.Asep said that from January until March 31, 2011, the Judicial Commission had received 749 complaints from the public, media and foreign institutions. The reports concerned the behavior of judges, police, committee and requests to review verdicts.Indonesian Court Monitoring Society (MAPPI) coordinator, Hasril Hertanto, said yesterday the summons showed that many judges did not understand the judicial ethical code.Hasril called on the Supreme Court to support the Judicial Commission to summon the judges. He said there must be coordination between the two institutions. The judges must fulfill the commissions summon, he said. We dont want the Supreme Court to intentionally summon the judges at the same time as the commission for serious cases, he said. MARTHA RUTH THERTINA