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View all search resultsJustice quits over family bribery scandal
Constitutional Court justice Arsyad Sanusi on Friday announced his resignation after an internal ethics council officially reprimanded him for the alleged involvement of his family in a bribery attempt involving an election dispute that he was presiding over in 2008
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onstitutional Court justice Arsyad Sanusi on Friday announced his resignation after an internal ethics council officially reprimanded him for the alleged involvement of his family in a bribery attempt involving an election dispute that he was presiding over in 2008.
Although he was deemed to have played no role in the alleged bribery, Arsyad said the ethical breaches were more serious than criminal offenses.
Failing to hold back tears, he said that he respected the council’s decision.
“Today, I declare my resignation as my moral responsibility to maintain the dignity of the judges and the integrity of the Constitutional Court,” he said in a press conference announcing the council’s ruling.
Arsyad’s daughter, Nesyawati, his brother-in-law, Zaimar, and the court’s substitute clerk Makhfud are alleged to have been involved in a bribery attempt relating to a South Bengkulu election dispute case that Arsyad presided over.
Makhfud is believed to have received Rp 58 million from then regent Dirwan Mahmud in exchange for ensuring a favorable ruling in the case, which challenged his victory in 2008.
The council’s hearing found that Nesyawati and Zaimar had met with Dirwan several times at Arsyad’s house.
The council’s chief justice, Haryono, who announced the ruling on Friday, said the council found no evidence of Arsyad’s involvement in this case, including the meetings at his house.
“But he violated a judicial ethics because he failed to ensure that his family members and subordinate did not interact with any parties related to a complaint during the case’s hearing,” Haryono said.
Chief Justice Mahfud MD said that he regretted Arsyad’s decision, and that he should not take the blame for something that he was not aware of.
In a separate case, the council cleared judge Akil Mochtar of violating the code of ethics in relation to an allegation that he received US bank notes equal to Rp 1 billion (US$111,000) from Simalungun regent Jopinus Ramli Saragih to uphold his victory in the 2010 election.
The court, led by Akil in an election dispute case in April last year, went on to rule in Saragih’s favor.
“There has been no evidence found, directly or indirectly, that Jopinus Ramli Saragih actually handed the money to judge Akil Mochtar; they never even met outside the court,” Haryono said.
