KY Chair: The Case Of Bribery Of Supreme Court Justices Is Not Due To Pressure And Threats

Chairman of the Judicial Commission Amzulian Rifai when giving a press statement at the KY Auditorium, Jakarta, Monday (16/10/2023). BETWEEN/Cahya Sari

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Judicial Commission (KY) Amzulian Rifai said the bribery case that ensnared a number of Supreme Court justices was not due to pressure or threats from parties involved in the entanglement of certain cases. However, the wobble of integrity when dealing with money. "If my experience so far, I'm sure they (the Supreme Court judges) haven't succeeded in being pressured, don't work to be scared. If they don't give up on their integrity, it means any pressure can be overcome, I'm sure the judge will be able to refuse the bribe," Amzulian said in Jakarta, Antara, Monday, October 16. Amzulian said that Supreme Court justices were well trained in dealing with pressure and threats that came from a number of parties to smooth the proceedings and ease sentences through the judge's decision. "They have been trained to be pressured, someone who reaches the position of Supreme Court judge, yes, they don't work to be pressured," he explained. Supreme Court justices, Amzulian said, are the position of peak achievement or the highest in charge of the general court, religion, military, and state administration. The position has also earned a high income so there is no reason for them to accept bribes. "Everything admits that this is a peak achievement that is coveted. If it has been achieved, from an income perspective, I think it is extraordinary. The state is now paying attention to the income of the Supreme Court judges. So, there is no longer any reason to accept bribes," he said. Previously, at the end of May 2023, the panel of judges at the Bandung District Court, West Java, sentenced a non-active Supreme Court Judge Sudrajad Dimyati to 8 years in prison who was accused of a bribery case at the Supreme Court. Chief Judge Yoserizal said that Sudrajad was legally and convincingly proven to have committed a criminal act of corruption together. Sudrajad received a bribe of 80,000 Singapore dollars in the Intidana Savings and Loans Cooperative (KSP) case. "The defendant was sentenced to 8 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 1 billion. With the provision that if the fine is not paid, it will be replaced with imprisonment for 3 months," said Yoserizal at the Bandung District Court, Tuesday (30/5). The receipt of bribes in the KSP Intidana bribery case also involved the inactive Supreme Court Justice Gazalba Saleh, who until now the legal process has not been completed. The KPK filed an appeal against the decision of the Bandung Corruption Court which acquitted Gazalba Saleh. The KPK prosecutor team has received a complete copy of the verdict and is currently in the preparation of cassation memory.

"I have to say that the process of Gazalba Saleh's brother has not been completed. We still have extraordinary legal efforts," said Firli when signed a memorandum of understanding from the Judicial Commission (KY) with the KPK at the KY Building Auditorium, Jakarta, Thursday (24/8).