Hot Debate Between Judge Itong Vs KPK In Press Conference

Surabaya District Court Judge Itong Isnaini Hidayat/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - The judge of the Surabaya District Court, Itong Isnaini Hidayat, refuses to be named as a suspect in receiving bribes for handling cases after being caught in an arrest operation (OTT) on Wednesday, January 19. However, the KPK believes that the determination is in accordance with the procedures according to the legislation.

Itong's protest took place during a press conference on the determination of the suspect on Thursday, January 20.

At first, he only showed an uncomfortable gesture. This can be seen because Itong looked behind him several times until finally he was reprimanded by the prison guard who was next to him.

Furthermore, after the Deputy Chairperson of the KPK, Nawawi Pomolango, named Itong and the substitute clerk, Hamdan, as suspected bribe recipients for receiving from the lawyer and attorney of PT Soyu Giri Primedika, Hendro Kasiono, he also protested.

"I never promise anything. That's bullshit," said Itong at a press conference at the KPK's Merah Putih building.

After conveying his protest, he was then asked to turn to face the wall again by the prison guard. Meanwhile, Nawawi chose to continue his statement in front of the media.

KPK Responds Casually to Itong's Objection

The protest delivered by the judge was then responded to by Nawawi casually. He said, please submit your protest no matter how hard it is because the determination of the suspect is certainly in accordance with the evidence found.

"For us, please feel free to express what you want, shout, what do you want, the KPK has sufficient evidence to determine the person concerned as a suspect in this case," said Nawawi.

In this case, Itong is suspected of accepting bribes through Hamdan, the Substitute Registrar of the Surabaya Court who is his representative. The money found during the silent operation amounted to IDR 140 million.

The KPK said the money was a sign that it was related to the handling of the case for the dissolution of PT SGP.

Furthermore, after being named suspects, Itong and Hamdan were deactivated by the Supreme Court. This was conveyed by the Acting Head of the Supreme Court Bawas Dwiarso Budi Santiarto at the press conference.

"Because the judge and clerk who became the object of this arrest have been designated by the KPK as suspects, while still upholding the principle of the presumption of innocence, today the person concerned has been temporarily dismissed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as a substitute judge and clerk," said Dwiarso, Thursday, January 20.

"The decree has been signed," he added.

The Supreme Court hopes that the catching operation (OTT) that ensnared Itong and Hamdan could be one of the corrective steps. In the future, Dwiarso hopes that the judiciary will be free from practices of corruption, collusion and nepotism.

"Hopefully this OTT will help the Supreme Court to speed up becoming an institution that is free from corrupt practices of corruption, collusion and nepotism," he stressed.

In addition, the Supreme Court Supervisory Body will carry out various preventive measures. Thus, the occurrence of violations of the code of ethics and corruption within the institution will no longer occur.

"The Supreme Court fully supports the legal steps taken by the KPK, including the OTT carried out today against the judges and clerks who replace the Surabaya District Court," he said.