"The Judicial Commission does not have the right to review the judge`s verdict and conduct an examination."Makassar, South Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - The Judicial Commission (KY) does not have the authority to review the judge`s verdict in former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief Antasari Azhar`s case, an expert said.
"The Judicial Commission does not have the right to review the judge`s verdict and conduct an examination," said Prof Dr Achmad Ali, a criminal law expert at Hasanuddin University in Makassar on Thursday.
Polemics about the Antasari case has emerged after a Judicial Commission statement that the judges who had served as the juries in Antasari`s court trials had ignored an expert`s testimony relating to the murder weapon and the bullet that had killed Nasrudin Zulkarnaen.
Achmad said, under universal principles of constitutional law, judiciary processes cannot be interfered in by any party and court judges had independent judicial powers.
The Code of Criminal Procedures also specified the rules regarding judges` verdicts, where appeal and cessation can be done if it is considered unfair or distorted.
"In fact, a party who feels aggrieved can file a judicial review if eligible," he said.
Law No. 22 of 2004 stated that the Judicial Commission only has the authority to supervise, uphold the honor and dignity and nobleness of court judges.
In this case, the Judicial Commission can conduct examination on the alleged violations of judicial ethics, not in assessing and examining the judge`s decision.
"This phenomenon has been shown that the Judicial Commission has been too far in carrying out its functions and authority," he said.
He added that the condition is aggravated by the emergence of opinion leaders in various media and mass demonstrations demanding the release of Antasari Azahar, which it does not provide legal education for the community.
(Uu.A050/HAJM/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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