I

was shocked and appalled by the recent arrest of the Constitutional Court'€™s chief justice on suspicion of taking bribes worth more than US$250,000 to fix a trial. The further findings of marijuana and ecstasy pills at his office sickened my stomach again.

The last bastion of justice, which has enjoyed a rare level of public trust almost as high as that of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), is now on the brink of free fall if it'€™s not immediately saved.

This nation without a doubt needs the KPK to keep hammering down these corrupt rats that keep our nation in limbo. Yet with the successful arrest, one fundamental question remains unanswered: Is there still any trustworthy judicial institution we can look up to with trust and integrity aside from the 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 had received high respect for its integrity and independence, recording many achievements settling various legal controversies from election disputes to questionable laws to the rights of children born out of wedlock.

Alas! The recent revelation of criminal activity in this prestigious judicial body has cast a dark cloud over the rest of society. In line with the '€œbroken window theory'€, dishonest judges can induce honest judges and citizens to become corrupt.

This may start a downward spiral of ever-increasing lawlessness if actions to eradicate misconduct in the judicial system are not taken immediately.

We still remember that the disgraced chief justice once said, confidently, that those accused of corruption should have their assets seized and their fingers cut off. Confronted with his own words by a journalist, without hesitation the chief justice slapped the journalist hard in the face. What a vulgar display of his immature and emotional character!

The funny thing is that in the first place he was able to be elected as the chief justice by our lawmakers in the House despite the public outcry over his implication in a graft case in 2011.

We '€œthe 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 and state officials steal from us and flash Cheshire cat smiles right in front of our faces. One after another is being dragged out and arrested for corruption.

Bribery is so deep rooted and so chronic that most people take it as a normal business expense. Corruption has become an integral part of the system.

The belief that they will not be caught and that even if caught, punishment will be light, keeps tempting them to follow in their colleagues'€™ footsteps. 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 punishment is out of question, so perhaps the disgraced chief justice'€™s idea of seizing all assets and cutting off fingers is not a bad one.

The harm has been done though. It makes us realize that judiciary corruption is far deeper and more extensive than we thought.

For that reason, public trust in the judicial bodies needs to be restored immediately. Rigged courts, bribed judges, phony trials and extortion by lawmakers should be eradicated, burnt down to the roots. Those who are guilty should receive the highest sanctions possible.

Yuni Herlina
Depok, West Java