Judges arrested by KPK have bad track records: Supreme Court

Supreme Court special crime chief Djoko Sarwoko said that two judges who were arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Friday morning in Semarang, Central Java, had bad track records.

“The two judges were known for their bad performances. They often released graft defendants,” Djoko said at KPK headquarters in Jakarta on Friday.

On Friday morning the KPK caught two corruption court judges, identified as Kartini Marpaung and Heru Kusbandono, immediately after they allegedly accepted bribes from an alleged broker, Sri Dartuti. The KPK also confiscated cash amounting to Rp 150 million (US$15,750).

According to Djoko, Kartini was stationed at the Semarang Corruption Court while Heru was at Pontianak Corruption Court.

“To be honest, I was surprised. [Heru] was stationed in Pontianak but apparently he arranged cases in Semarang. This is embarrassing,” he said.

The KPK and the Supreme Court agreed to take the three suspects to Jakarta on Friday evening. (swd)