YOGYAKARTA – Indonesian Judicial Commission cooperates with Center for Anti-Corruption Studies UGM (Pukat) to monitor the performance and behavior of judges in the judicial process. The two-year cooperation is realized in the form of thematic activities of Community Empowerment Student Field Practice for judicial users. The signing of the cooperation was conduted by UGM Rector, Prof. Dr. Pratikno, M.Soc.Sc, and Chairman of Judicial Commission, Prof. Dr. Eman Suparman, S.H., M.H, in UGM Faculty of Law, on Tuesday (31/7). The event was attended by Vice Rector for Cooperation and Alumni, Prof. Dr. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc., Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Cooperation of the Faculty, Dr. Sigit Riyanto, SH., LLM and Director of the Center, Zainal Arifin Mochtar, S.H, LLM.
Eman Suparman confirmed the aberrant behavior committed by the judge is mostly due to the practice of bribery done by lawyer to win their case. "Lawyer becomes a ‘disease’ for the judge," Eman said.
According to Eman, people not only supervise the behavior of the judges but also the lawyers who often give ‘the lure’ to the judges to influence the judge’s verdict in the case. "If the bribery still occurs, then the judge’s behavior will not change," he said.
Although Judicial Commission has the authority to supervise judges, Eman said, it cannot give strict punishment despite having received a report from the community and check out the judge in concern. "It’s not easy to examine the judge. Often the judge will not come when being called by Judicial Commission. If they are called, there will be recrimination, for conflict of interest reason," he added.
As chairman of Judicial Commission, Eman hopes the lawyers and litigants to not practice bribery. "Don’t bribe and the judges do not want to be bribed," he said.
If there has been an assumption about the judges who are less prosperous due to very low salary, but after being increased minimally 10 million rupiah per month, this should make judges to be fairer, refraining from deviant practices. "We’ll see, whether the judges would change or not even though their salary has gone up," he said.
UGM Rector, Prof. Dr. Pratikno confirms the existence of Judicial Commission not only watches judge’s behavior but also carries out the wishes of the judicial process to run fairly and transparently. "What have been faced so far are frustration and quality of justice. Society has optimism when the Judicial Commission exists," he said.
He adds, UGM is ready to work together to strengthen the role of Judicial Commission in monitoring the judicial system. Monitoring of the judicial process is not only done by Judicial Commission, but also involve the wider community. "Because community supervision is the most important," he said.