Excluding In The Corruption Case Of Supreme Court Justices, Chief Justice Of The Supreme Court: Sorry For The Maximum Amount

Allegedly involved in the bribery case for case management at the Supreme Court, Supreme Court Justice Gazalba Saleh officially wore the KPK orange vest on Thursday, December 8. (Tsa Tsia-VOI)

JAKARTA - Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (MA) M Syarifuddin admitted that the alleged corruption case that ensnared two Supreme Court justices in their environment, Sudrajad Dimyati and Gazalba Saleh, became a tough test for the institution in 2022.

"Currently, this is the toughest phase that I have to face as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court," said MA Chairman Prof. M Syarifuddin during a reflection of the performance of the Supreme Court in 2022 in Jakarta, Tuesday, January 3.

In addition to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the country since the last few years, including infecting judicial citizens, the issue of alleged corruption cases of the two Supreme Court judges has also added to the institution's heavy work.

It didn't stop there, the problem faced by the Supreme Court got worse where several MA employees were also arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in the alleged corruption case of Supreme Court justices.

"We leave it entirely to the KPK to be processed in accordance with applicable legal provisions," said the head of the Supreme Court.

However, Syarifuddin hopes that the principle of presumption of innocence must be put forward and implemented properly and correctly by anti-corruption agencies in handling the case.

All parties, he continued, admitted that they were concerned about the case that ensnared the two Supreme Court justices. This is because his actions have tarnished the good name of the institution, including lowering the level of public trust in the Supreme Court.

"On behalf of the Supreme Court leadership, I apologize profusely," he said.

The chairman of the Supreme Court is determined to use the alleged corruption case as a lesson for improvement in the judiciary in the future.

On the one hand, he realizes that when judicial reforms are carried out, the consequence is cleaning the body of the institution. However, it is like the fruit of simalakama because they are faced with two choices that are both heavy.

He said that the individuals who were prosecuted by the KPK or the Supreme Court Supervisory Agency were colleagues who had been repeatedly reminded both in internal meetings and coaching activities. However, unfortunately they are still determined to deviate so that there is no choice but to take firm action.

"If left unchecked, it will damage the judiciary and harm the interests of justice seekers," he said.