Justice Arsyad to resign amid bribery allegations

Constitutional Court justice Arsyad Sanusi insists he will resign regardless of the results of an investigation into alleged bribery that implicates himself and his family.

An ethics panel comprising justices and honorary council members is currently investigating accusations that Arsyad and his family members were involved in a bribery case in a regent’s election in South Bengkulu.

“[Even if the investigation determines that] I didn’t breach any codes of conduct, I will resign,” Arsyad said Friday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

He said shame was the main reason for his resignation.

“I feel too ashamed, even to play golf or go to the mall. People will point their fingers at me if I preside over court hearings and say bad things about me,” he said.

The former head of the Surabaya High Court has submitted his resignation letter to Constitutional Court chief Mahfud MD. If all falls into place, his last day at the court will be April 14, 2011.

On that day Arsyad will be 67, still three years away from his retirement, which is due at the age of 70.

Arsyad’s name came into the public spotlight following revelations from an independent team that alleged case brokering in the South Bengkulu regent’s election and implicated a Constitutional Court justice.

In their report, the team said they found Arsyad’s daughter Neshawaty had allegedly received money and arranged a meeting at her house with former candidate for South Bengkulu regent Dirwan Mahmud.