Sitting Supreme Court Justice's 300 Million Won Bribery Scandal... Will It Lead to Corruption Investigation at Indonesia's Supreme Court?

Indonesian Supreme Court Justice Arrested on Bribery Charges
'Supreme Court Corruption' Scandal Spreading?

KPK reports that Intidana Savings and Loan Cooperative, which was on the brink of bankruptcy, provided bribes totaling approximately 2.2 billion rupiah (about 207 million KRW) to six Supreme Court officials, including Justice Dimiyati, to secure a favorable ruling from the Supreme Court. The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Foreign media reported that Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has arrested a sitting Supreme Court justice on bribery charges. Locally, there is keen interest in whether this case will expand into a Supreme Court corruption scandal.

On the 25th (local time), according to local media including Antara News Agency, the KPK announced that it had arrested Supreme Court Justice Sudrajad Dimyati on bribery charges.

This is related to the Supreme Court ruling on Intidana Savings and Loan Cooperative on the 23rd. At that time, the Supreme Court overturned the High Court ruling in favor of the Intidana cooperative. Justice Dimyati was one of the panel judges in this trial.

Regarding this, the KPK believes that the cooperative, which was on the brink of bankruptcy, provided bribes totaling approximately 2.2 billion rupiah (about 209 million KRW) to Justice Dimyati and six other Supreme Court officials.

Firli Bahuri, Chairman of the KPK, stated, "Recently, we conducted raids on the homes and offices of the suspects, and at the home of one Supreme Court staff member, we found cash amounting to 148,000 Singapore dollars (about 147 million KRW)."

In response, the Supreme Court announced plans to suspend Justice Dimyati. However, some voices have called for investigations into all Supreme Court justices, arguing that since the Supreme Court issues rulings through consensus, it is highly likely that other justices also accepted bribes.

Furthermore, the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society reportedly requested the KPK to expand the investigation into a comprehensive corruption scandal within the Supreme Court, citing various suspicions including irregularities in the recruitment of justices, according to the media.