Judge Suspended for One Year Over Unauthorized Secret Marriage

A judge serving at the Serang State Administrative Court has been suspended from hearing cases for one year after marrying a second wife in a secret religious ceremony without authorization from judicial leadership or his first wife. The Majelis Kehormatan Hakim, or Judges’ Honor Council, handed down the severe disciplinary penalty during a session at the Supreme Court building in Jakarta, detikNews reported.

Under the terms of the ruling, the magistrate, identified by the initials MNH, will serve his one-year nonpalu suspension at the High Administrative Court in Makassar. The tribunal also ordered that his judicial position allowance be withheld for the entirety of the disciplinary period.

How the Unregistered Marriage Unraveled in Banten

The clandestine marriage came to light when MNH’s first wife, identified as DA, visited him at a hospital in Serang, Banten, while he was receiving medical treatment. Confronted during the hospital visit, MNH admitted to taking a second wife without revealing her identity at the time. Subsequent investigations confirmed the second wife was a woman with the initials AAS, whom MNH married in 2022 roughly six months after his transfer to the Serang State Administrative Court. From his marriage with DA, MNH has six children, while his union with AAS produced two biological children and one stepchild from a previous marriage.

Following an investigation launched by the Supreme Court’s Supervisory Body in April 2024, DA submitted letters withdrawing her complaint against her husband in June, July, and October 2024. According to reporting by pantau.com, DA stated she withdrew the reports to secure financial support and parental affection for their children. Court proceedings also revealed that MNH had filed a formal request for a divorce in 2024 but later rescinded the paperwork, claiming the filing stemmed from a moment of emotional impulse.

Disciplinary Violations Cited by the Supreme Court Tribunal

The disciplinary tribunal ruled that MNH breached Government Regulation Number 45 of 1990, which amends Government Regulation Number 10 of 1983 concerning marriage and divorce authorizations for civil servants. The regulations mandate that male civil servants seeking to take an additional wife must obtain prior written permission from authorized officials.

In addition to violating civil servant marriage rules, the council found MNH guilty of breaching the Joint Regulation of the Supreme Court and the Judicial Commission on the Code of Ethics and Behavioral Guidelines for Judges. Tirto.id reported that the violations specifically involved provisions requiring high integrity, self-respect, and strict discipline.

Menjatuhkan sanksi kepada terlapor dengan sanksi berat berupa hakim nonpalu selama 1 tahun di PT TUN Makassar dengan ketentuan tunjangan jabatan hakim tidak dibayarkan selama menjalani sanksi hakim nonpalu.

Suradi

The disciplinary panel was chaired by Supreme Court Justice Suradi, with Supreme Court Justices Ennid Hasanuddin and Diana Malemita Ginting serving as members. Judicial Commission members Abhan, Setyawan Hartono, F. Willem Saija, and Anita Kadir also sat on the tribunal that reviewed the case.