By Anadolu staff
ANKARA (AA) – The Indonesia Constitutional Court ethics panel found the country's top judge guilty of conflict of interest and ordered his removal from the position of chief justice for influencing a ruling in favor of President Joko Widodo's son.
A three-member ethics panel of the court led by former chief justice Jimly Ashiddiqie on Tuesday ruled that Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of Indonesia Anwar Usman influenced the ruling on a judicial review to pave the way for Gibran Rakabuming Raka to contest the next year's election for vice president, Jakarta Post reported.
Anwar is the brother-in-law of President Widodo.
Gibran is 36 years old, and the country's law requires presidential candidates to be at least 40 years old.
However, in a majority ruling last month, the court exempted candidates who had served as elected regional leaders from the 40-year age limit, allowing Gibran to run in the election because he had served as mayor of Surakarta.
"The council orders the deputy chief justice to immediately hold a meeting to elect a new chief justice, without (Anwar) having the right to be nominated in the process,” the daily reported quoting Jimly as saying.
Last month, Gibran officially registered as a vice-presidential candidate for next year's general election with the country's electoral commission.
Indonesia's Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, 72, will run as a presidential candidate and Widodo's son Gibran, as a vice-presidential candidate from the Advanced Indonesia Coalition.
The world’s third-largest democracy will hold simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections next year.
*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid