When justice is tempered with mercy

[Hard Rock Moslem]

Assalamu'alaikum,

Allahu'akhbar! I'm glad to share a very touching story, please read here:

cacoescrib.wordpress.com/2012/03/.../when-justice-is-tempered-with-mercy/

 

[strive-may-i]

Brother, appears there is a second version of story! ....

Posting the blog and the commenter:

Blog on: cacoescrib.wordpress.com/2012/03/.../when-justice-is-tempered-with-mercy/
March 5, 2012
In this season of Lent, I thought i share this true story that I got via my fb. I’m sure that for many of us who are Christians, we probably heard of the stern judge who tempered his judgment with mercy in countless sermons. Reading this piece which happened in a courtroom across the straits made me think of the reason why the Father sent his Son and the agony that would ensue.

Anyway, here is the story and have a blessed Lent. I’m sorry but this piece is in Bahasa but I’ve translated it after the Bahasa version …

English translation:
A Indonesian judge by the name of Marzuki was sitting in judgment of an old lady who pleaded guilty of stealing some tapioca from a plantation. In her defense, she pleaded to the judge that she was done the deed because she was poor and her son was sick while her grandchild was hungry. The plantation manager insisted that she be punished as a deterrent to others.

The judge going through the documents then look up and said to the old lady, “I’m sorry but I cannot make any exception to the law and you must be punished.” The old lady was fined Rp. 1 million (USD 100) and if she could not pay the fine then she will be jailed for 2 and a half years as demanded by the law. She wept as she could not pay the fine.

The judge then took off his hat and put in Rp. 1 million into the hat and said “In the name of justice, I fined all who are in the court Rp. 50 thousand (USD 5.50) as dwellers of this city and letting a child to starve until her grandmother have to steal to feed her grandchild. The registrar will now collect the fines from all the accused.”

The court managed to collect Rp 3.5 million (USD 200) whereby once the fine was paid off, the rest was given to the old lady … .including the fine collected from the plantation manager.

Comment by: Tan Kuan Han
Mar 06, 2012 @ 18:07:19
I believe the story originated from here, sir. There was real mercy from the public prosecutor; she gave money for the elder lady in the photo to attend the hearing.

“To attend court in Purwokerto, Minah said she could spend Rp. 50,000 for the bike-cab and public transport. Not to mention for her meals on the way. “Sometimes my son would pay for me,” she said.

Before delivering the verdict the panel of judges also asked Minah, who else gave her money to come to Purwokerto. “I was given Rp. 50,000 from the lady attorney, for transportation,” said Minah as she nodded to the public prosecutor, Noor Hananiah.

Noor Haniah who heard the answer could only look straight into Minah’s eyes.

Minah’s elegy about the three cacao fruits she took touched the panel of judges. While reading the verdict, the head of the panel of judges, Muslich Bambang Luqmono had to choke back his tears.

Muslich confessed that he was touched since his parents were farmers too.

The panel of judges decided, Minah was sentenced for probational arrest for 1 month 15 days. So Minah didn’t have to be imprisoned, provided that she didn’t commit any other crime in 3 month’s period.

The trial ended with cheers from the locals who attended. Minah’s case can be an example that the resolution of legal issues in this country could still go without listening to conscience or a sense of true justice. (Madina Nusrat/C17-09)”

LINK: english.kompas.com/read/2009/11/20/09145061/an.irony.of.justice.in.indonesia