Judge Kusno: I Have Never Granted…

Kusno, who began his career as a judge in 1991, has led a number of pretrial hearings that have garnered public attention.

Kompas/Riana Afifah

Wakil Ketua Pengadilan Negeri Jakarta Selatan Kusno.

House of Representatives speaker and Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto on Nov. 15 filed for another pre-trial hearing at the South Jakarta District Court. This was after Novanto was renamed a suspect in the electronic ID card graft case by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

At the first pretrial hearing, South Jakarta District Court Judge Cepi Iskandar ruled that KPK’s move of naming Novanto a suspect was invalid.

At the second pretrial filed by Novanto, South Jakarta District Court deputy head Kusno will act as the sole judge. The first hearing will be held on November 30.

Kusno, who began his career as a judge in 1991 in Waikabubak Court, East Nusa Tenggara, has led a number of pretrial hearings that have garnered public attention.

In 2009, in his early years as a judge at the South Jakarta District Court, Kusno was also in charge of a pretrial hearing involving the KPK. He led a pretrial hearing requested by a number of non-governmental organizations regarding a decision by the South Jakarta District Court to issue a letter of decree on the prosecution of then KPK leaders Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M Hamzah.

In 2012, Kusno also led a pretrial hearing requested by John Refra and John Kei. At the time, John Kei argued that his arrest and detainment by the Jakarta Police was not in accordance with procedures.

In 2017, shortly after returning to the South Jakarta District Court, Kusno headed a pretrial hearing requested by the suspect in the Agusta Westland 101 helicopter procurement case, Irfan Kurnia Saleh.

In all the pretrial hearings Kusno has headed, he has rejected all the pretrial motions. “I have never granted [a pretrial motion],” he said in his office at the South Jakarta District Court, yesterday.

Regarding the pretrial hearing requested by Novanto that he will lead, Kusno said he will objectively handle the case and maintain his independence.

“My personal subjectivity must be put aside. I must avoid interests from outside. I am a stubborn person. Hopefully my decision will be accepted by the applicant and respondent. More importantly, [I hope] my decision is logical and can be accounted for academically,” Kusno said.

One thing is for sure, Kusno’s decision will determine a lot of things. If he grants Novanto’s motion, it will not only mark the first time he will have granted a pretrial motion, but it could also result in the termination of Novanto’s case, meaning Novanto could continue to act as House speaker and Golkar chairman. However, the exact opposite will happen if Kusno rejects Novanto’s pretrial motion.