Hakim Konstitusi Manahan M.P Sitompul

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the constitutional justices work from home (WFH). Constitutional Justice Manahan M. P. Sitompul talked about his activities during WFH. He has been reading up on and reviewing cases whose examinations are still ongoing. He also prepared for ruling concept to be brought to the justice deliberation meeting (RPH).

“We have prepared ruling concepts when we [are tasked] as drafters. For cases that are still examined, we re-read what should be studied for to provide recommendations during RPH or plenary [hearing]. That’s what we do at home,” Justice Sitompul said to the Court’s media team through video call on Thursday afternoon (16/4/2020). He also said that online hearings should follow the COVID-19 prevention protocols such as social or physical distancing.

Activities during WFH differ from those during normal circumstances. For example, Justice Sitompul and family currently could not do some activities such as visiting relatives. “We’re afraid of being thought of as carriers and we wouldn’t want to contract the virus,” he added.

He added that by staying at home, the public can help the Government in curbing the spread of COVID-19. “I walk around the apartment to exercise [and] to avoid boredom, through social distancing and by wearing mask. We hardly meet people [outside],” he said to conclude the video call. (Panji/NRA)

Translated by: Yuniar Widiastuti