The Constitutional Court on the Brink

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/10/08/your-letters-the-constitutional-court-brink.html

I was shocked and appalled at recent arrest of the Constitutional Court’s chief justice on suspicion of taking bribes worth more than $250,000 to fix a case hearing. The further findings of marijuana and ecstasy pills at his office sickened my stomach again. The last bastion of justice, which has enjoyed rare high public trust almost as good as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is now on the brink of free fall if not immediately saved.

It seems the nature of change, once the tempo picks up, is that one drama follows another until several can be happening at the same time. Unfortunately, instead of slowing down, allowing us some respite; the saga continues with more climaxes and pinnacles to drain our energy, leaving us all exhausted and worn out.

Oh yes, the saga of corruption seems increasingly occupy our screens! It’s like watching a bad sinetron one over another on daily basis. Endless and frustrating!

The scandalous arrest makes it the second time in three months that the KPK has pursued the top official within the supposedly clean and prestigious institutions, after nailing down the chairman of the upstream petroleum regulator SKK Migas.

Well done KPK!

This nation without a doubt needs KPK to keep hammering down these corruptive rats that set our nation into limbo.

Yet along the successful arrest, one fundamental question remains unanswered. Is there still any trustworthy judiciary institution we can look up to with trust and integrity aside from KPK?

The Constitutional Court is the last place Indonesians can go to for legal redress involving all manner of issues. Under Mahfud MD, the court has received high respect for its integrity and independence, recorded many achievements settling various legal controversies from election disputes, questionable laws, to the rights of children born out of wedlock. 

Alas! The recent expose of criminal activity in this prestigious judiciary body has cast a dark cloud to the rest of the society. In line with the “broken window theory”, dishonest judge can induce honest judge and citizen to try to become even more corrupt. This may start a downward spiral of ever-increasing lawlessness if the actions to eradicate misconducts in the judicial system not taken immediately.

We still remember the disgrace Chief Justice once said confidently that those accused of corruption should have their assets seized and their fingers cut off. Asked by journalist of this statement, without any second thought he slapped the him hard on the face. A vulgar display of his immature and emotional character. 

The funny thing is how on the first place, he was ever elected as the Chief Justice by our lawmakers in the House over public outcries that he once implicated in a graft case in 2011. We “the people” elect individuals we somehow believe will be honest and have a bit of integrity.  

Oh, what fools we are!

Corrupt politicians, lawmakers, law enforcers, state officials steal from us and flash Cheshire cat smiles right in front of our face. One after another is being dragged and arrested with corrupt practices.  Bribery is so deep rooted so chronic most people take it as a normal business expense. Corruption has become an integral part of the system.

A belief that they will not be caught and that even if caught, punishment will be light keeps tempting them to follow their colleagues’ shoes. Either they are fools or too greedy for power and money.

This is an outrage. These greedy, money-hungry thieves should be punished severely for their crimes because they have destroyed the public trust. The penalty should provide a deterrent effect.

Well…. Capital punishmennt is out of question so perhaps the idea of the disgrace Chief Justice of seizing all the assets and cutting off the fingers is NOT a bad idea.

The harm has be done though. It makes us realize that judiciary corruption is far deeper and more extensive.

For that reason, the public trust on the judiciary bodies needs to be restored immediately. Rigged courts, bribed judges, phony trials, extortion by lawmakers should be eradicated, burnt down up to its roots. Those who are guilty should receive the highest sanction possible.

Related institutions should help to establish a clean judicial system to deter corrupt practices as corrupt judiciary encourages even greater corruption. Corruption normally thrives in societies where ethical and moral standards are weak and where punishment is lenient.

The law should stop the judiciary bodies from destroying their selves with greed and stupidity. Judicial reforms should be immediately imposed regarding judge gratuities and the code of ethics, performance standards for judges, or judge accountability, and legislative oversight of judges.

And we, the people, should keep standing strong and tall with KPK with its endless task to combat corruption. It’s the one standing institution so far with trust and integrity.

May God speed and save our nation from limbo.