Judge apologises for rape 'joke'

After receiving being badly condemned by the people due to his ‘joke’ saying that “both the rapist and the victim share the pleasure”, Indonesia Supreme Court Judge candidate Muhammad Daming Sunisi openly apologised and stated his regret for making such statement.

The consequences of making such ‘joke’ while going through a qualification test in front of the House of Representative Commission III Indonesia (DPR) does not just tarnish his chance to be appointed as Supreme Court Judge but he may need to face the Judiciary Commission for violation of ethics.

“From the bottom of my heart, I send my apologies to the people, mass media, the Childrens Protection Commission of Indonesia (KPAI), Legal Aid Bureau (YLBHI) and law observers for my ‘out of control’ and unconsciously speech.

“I apologise especially to the Almighty,” said Daming at a press conference Tuesday.

Daming explained that he was unaware that the statement came out like that as he was in a tense situation answering questions from the DPR during the test.

During the test, Daming who is also the Chief Judge for Banjarmasin High Court in Kalimantan Selatan stated that the death sentence for rape should be given a deep thought because “both the rapist and the victim share the pleasure”.

The community in their reaction also condemned the DPR members for laughing at Daming’s ‘joke’. However they quickly defended their actions by saying that they laughed because they were surprised to hear such statement from a Supreme Court candidate.