KETIKA PENGADIL MENJADI TERSANGKA: ANALISA KRITIS ATAS SUAP HAKIM DALAM PENANGANAN KASUS KORUPSI TRILIUNAN RUPIAH PT WILMAR GROUP DKK

Abstract

The bribery scandal in the crude palm oil (CPO) export corruption case involving PT Wilmar Group and several judicial officials has become a severe precedent threatening the integrity of Indonesia’s judiciary. The controversy escalated when the Central Jakarta Corruption Court acquitted all defendants from legal charges, despite strong evidence of corruption that caused state losses exceeding IDR 11.8 trillion. Subsequent investigations by the Attorney General's Office and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) revealed that the verdict was influenced by an organized bribery scheme involving judges, court clerks, and legal representatives, with bribes totaling billions of rupiah. This study aims to analyze the impact of judicial bribery on the integrity of the judiciary and public trust in Indonesia’s law enforcement system. Using a qualitative descriptive approach and literature review as its primary method, the study finds that bribery undermines judicial independence, eliminates impartiality, reduces the quality of legal decisions, and damages the internal checks and balances of the judicial system. Furthermore, public trust in the judiciary has sharply declined, fostering cynicism, discouraging legal participation, and weakening the overall effectiveness of law enforcement. To restore integrity and rebuild public trust, comprehensive structural reforms, enhanced transparency, consistent legal enforcement, and continuous legal education are critically needed.