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Selected trials continue despite COVID-19, Supreme Court says
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Supreme Court in Central Jakarta (Courtesy of the Supreme Court/-)
T
he Supreme Court has decided to put on hold most trials across the country because of the coronavirus outbreak but will move on with cases where the detention period has almost ended.
In a circular issued on Monday, chief justice M. Hatta Ali said the ruling applied to cases heard at district, military and religious courts and where it was no longer legally possible to extend the detention period.
Otherwise, their detention should be extended until the end of the COVID-19 crisis, he said.
In hearing these cases, the presiding judge could limit the number of people allowed inside the courtroom to observe the social-distancing regime now recommended in all public places. Everyone coming to a courtroom must also have their temperature taken.
“Judges and everyone in the room can use protective gear, such as face masks and gloves,” Hatta said.
He appealed to the public seeking court services to turn to the internet.
“Justice seekers are encouraged to use the e-litigation applications for civil, religious and state administrative cases,” he said, adding that many court officials, including judges, could handle them by working from home.
Some court officials, including those at the Supreme Court, however, still turn up to work to provide certain public services that could not be provided online.
The Justice Monitoring Coalition, an NGO, criticized the Supreme Court’s decision to continue holding hearings, saying this could compromise the health and safety of court officials.
“This could endanger court officials and prisoners,” the coalition said in a statement.
The coalition also called on the Supreme Court to release prisoners with minor crimes, such as drug users who make up the bulk of inmates, to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Indonesian prisons are notoriously overcrowded. The coalition cited data from the Law and Human Rights Ministry's Correctional Facilities Directorate General showing that the number of prisoners in the country exceeded prisons' capacity by 98 percent. (mfp)
