Indonesian High Court Judge Dismissed for Rp1 Billion Bribe

The Judicial Honor Council (Majelis Kehormatan Hakim) removed a high court judge in Makassar, identified only as YM, from office without honor after confirming he accepted a bribe of roughly Rp1 billion to influence a cassation case. The council judged the conduct a serious breach of the Supreme Court’s Joint Regulations and the Judicial Commission’s Code of Ethics.

Chairman Yanto stated the judge “terbukti melanggar Peraturan Bersama MA dan KY tentang Kode Etik dan Pedoman Perilaku Hakim” and imposed the harsh sanction of dismissal without honor. The allegations stem from payments made in six installments beginning in March 2024, plus a Rp90 million loan, which the plaintiff later discovered had not resulted in any court action.

The case was brought before the council after complaints were filed with the Makassar High Court, police, the Supreme Court’s oversight body, and the Judicial Commission. YM admitted he never pursued the case and had only met the plaintiff in Jakarta.