Sarwata was the tenth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Indonesia.[1] Sarwata led an investigation by the Supreme Court into allegations of its own wrongdoing in 1996, during which his panel found no evidence of such wrongdoing. His promotion as Chief Justice thereafter was seen as a victory for the Court's old elite.[1] He was the first Chief Justice of Indonesia to be openly accused of corruption.[2]

Sarwata
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Indonesia
In office
1 November 1996 – 1 August 2000
Nominated bySuharto
Preceded bySuryono
Succeeded byBagir Manan
Personal details
Born(1935-07-02)2 July 1935
Tebing Tinggi, North Sumatra, Dutch East Indies
Died3 August 2003(2003-08-03) (aged 68)
Jakarta, Indonesia
CitizenshipIndonesian

Sarwata has been described as the last bastion of military men in the Indonesian judiciary before the Post-Suharto era. He was disdainful of civilian institutions, rarely actually showed up for work at the Supreme Court, displayed little knowledge of legal issues and made a habit of dodging official visitors to his office.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b David Bourchier, "Politics of Law in Contemporary Indonesia." Taken from Law, Capitalism and Power in Asia: The Rule of Law and Legal Institutions, pg. 247. Ed. Kanishka Jayasuriya. Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge, 2006. ISBN 9781134738250
  2. ^ Sebastian Pompe, The Indonesian Supreme Court: A Study of Institutional Collapse, pg. 167. Ithaca: SEAP Publications, 2005. ISBN 9780877277385
  3. ^ Sebastian Pompe, The Indonesian Supreme Court, pg. 166.
Legal offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Indonesia
1996–2000
Succeeded by