Supreme Court to Probe Judges After Clerk Named Graft Suspect
Jakarta. The Supreme Court will dig into the panel of judges who tried the sexual abuse case of dangdut sensation Saipul Jamil at the North Jakarta District Court, where one of its clerks has been named graft suspect.
Rohadi was accused by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday of receiving Rp 250 million ($18,700) in kickbacks from two of Saipul's lawyers, Bertha Natalia and Kasman Sangaji, as well as his brother Samsul Hidayatullah.
But it is alleged the clerk acted only as middleman for the bribery and the judges, Ifa Sudewi and Hasoloan Sianturi, might have also been implicated, KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo said.
The North Jakarta District Court on Tuesday sentenced Saipul to three years in prison, lower than the jail term of seven years sought by prosecutors for the singer, who was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy.
In Indonesia's court and law system, clerks do not have the authority to change a verdict.
"There are indeed indications of the involvement of the judges in the case," Agus said on Friday, as quoted by Kompas.com.
"There are possibilites the registrar was merely the middleman. This is what we are currently investigating."
In line with the KPK's allegations, the Supreme Court will probe the panel of judges, court spokesman Suhadi said.
"Our supervisory body will examine the case after hearing from the KPK."
KPK investigators arrested the four in sting operations in several locations in Jakarta on Wednesday, when they seized Rp 250 million in cash.
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