CHAIRMAN of the Judicial Commission (KY) Amzulian Rifai held a meeting with Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin at the Indonesian Attorney General’s Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday (12/11). The meeting took place in the middle of the investigation into a case of alleged bribery and/or gratification which involved three judges at the Surabaya District Court (PN) as suspects in connection with the murder case committed by Ronald Tannur.
After meeting Burhanuddin, Amzulian emphasized that his party’s authority could only investigate ethical violations by members of the judiciary. During this meeting, he said that often investigations carried out by KY found criminal elements. However, Amzulian admitted that his party could not investigate this matter.
“Sometimes during an ethical examination, there are actually things that we believe are criminal in nature. But, when we feel that they are criminal, our authority does not extend to that,” he explained.
Therefore, the meeting with the Attorney General is a moment for the KY to mitigate if it finds suspected criminal acts when examining individual judges. According to Amzulian, Burhanuddin has expressed his willingness to follow up on the results of the KY examination at a later date.
“We will convey follow-up if the results of the examination are criminal. The Attorney General is pleased to follow up later if there are criminal matters,” said Amzulian.
It is known that JAM-Pidsus investigators have named six people as suspects in cases of alleged bribery and/or gratification related to case management, including three Surabaya District Court judges, namely Erintuah Damanik, Mangapul, and Heru Hanindyo.
The other three suspects are former Head of the Legal and Judicial Training Agency of the Supreme Court (MA) Zarof Ricar, Ronald’s lawyer named Lisa Rachmat, and Meirizka Widjaja as Ronald’s mother.
Erintuah, Mangapul, and Heru handed down a verdict of acquittal against Ronald at the first instance court. Meanwhile, at the cassation hearing, Ronald’s case was tried by Supreme Court justices Soesilo, Ainal Mardhiah and Sutarjo.
Separately, Burhanuddin emphasized that his party would follow up on the report submitted by KY. If the results of the KY’s examination of individual judges are deemed accurate, investigators, continued the Attorney General, will investigate them.
He also said that he would not feel uncomfortable if he investigated a case involving a supreme judge at the Supreme Court. (P-5)
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What mechanisms currently exist to ensure accountability for judicial misconduct in the United States?
**Interviewer:** Joining me today is Mr. Alex Reed, an expert on judicial ethics and accountability. Recently, there’s been a lot of public discussion around a Reuters investigation [[1](https://www.reutersagency.com/en/media-center/inside-the-reuters-year-long-investigation-into-judicial-misconduct-across-the-u-s-iduskbn243278/)]detailing widespread judicial misconduct.
What are your initial thoughts on these findings?
**Alex Reed:** The revelations from Reuters are deeply concerning. This comprehensive investigation exposes a troubling pattern of judges escaping accountability for serious ethical violations. It highlights a systemic issue that undermines public trust in the judiciary.
**Interviewer:** In Indonesia, we’ve seen a similar situation with the Judicial Commission (KY) stating that while they often uncover potential criminal activity during ethical probes, their mandate only allows them to investigate ethical breaches. How do you think this jurisdictional challenge can be addressed?
**Alex Reed:** This is a complex issue. While the KY plays a crucial role in maintaining judicial ethics, their limitations in addressing criminal behavior create a dangerous loophole. A clearer delineation of responsibilities and improved communication channels between the KY and law enforcement agencies are essential. We need a system where ethical violations with criminal implications
are seamlessly transitioned to the appropriate authorities for a thorough investigation.
**Interviewer:** What concrete steps can be taken to address this broader issue of judicial accountability and prevent future misconduct?
**Alex Reed:** First and foremost, transparency is paramount.
Making judicial disciplinary records accessible to the public promotes accountability. Second, we need comprehensive ethics training programs for judges, incorporating real-world scenarios and emphasizing the consequences of misconduct. establishing an independent body with the authority to investigate and prosecute judges suspected of criminal behavior would be a significant step towards restoring public trust.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Mr. Alex Reed. Clearly, ensuring ethical conduct and accountability within the judiciary is a matter of ongoing concern that requires multi-faceted solutions.
