Moksa Hutasoit, Jakarta – The Supreme Court appeal decision to release former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy Muchdi Purwoprandjono from all charges of involvement in the Munir murder was because the judges were incompetent. The Three Supreme Court judges handling the case were not experts in criminal law.

This was one of the conclusions drawn from a National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) examination board study into the Munir case legal process. The results of the study were presented by examination board member Mudzakkir at the Komnas HAM offices on Jl. Latuharhary in Jakarta on Tuesday February 9.

The panel of judges hearing the appeal against the South Jakarta District Court ruling that release Purwoprandjono was presided over by Professor La Nyak Pa. The other two members of the panel meanwhile were Proffessor Muchsin and Proffessor Valerine J. Krierkhoff.

“Ibu (Mrs.) Vali is an anthropology and civil [crimes] expert, while the other two are experts in Islamic law. So the judged did not have the competence to examine matters of criminal law”, he said.

The other finding by the examination board was that the trials of the defendants in the Munir murder case were held separately by the South Jakarta District Court. Yet the trial of the instigating and material parties should be combined and handled by the same judges because it represents a single case in committing intent.

“If they are tried separately let alone in different trials, then the respective rulings will have their own spirit,” explained Mudzakkir. (lh/iy)

[Translated by James Balowski.]