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When I was first ‘introduced’ to this character, it was over a mega scandal that shook the whole nation. The scandal was so complex that up till today, it remains unresolved as yet, pending a lot of  things that I personally think are lame excuses for an attempt to ‘vapourize’ this scandal one day. However, as the time goes by and as I got myself caught up in the process of this case, I became fascinated by this simple character as she was carrying out her duties with her black judge’s coat wrapping her. And as each day passes, my fascination grew to admiration for this South Jakarta District Court Judge.

Her name is Albertina Ho. She’s a very simple lady from Maluku who came from a modest family background. She had to provide for her own education at such a very young age while living apart from her parents. She made the conscious decision to pursue her education at all risks even if it meant she would have had to work for it. And work she did. She had to pay for her own school tuitions and living expenses. Until fate brought her to the doorsteps of Yogyakarta’s District Court in 1998. Being a Judge somehow came almost naturally to her.

Like any other profession, the work of a judge demanded the highest discipline and integrity in order to maintain objectivity. The most difficult temptation in any profession would be to receive or reject the numerous temptations offered all throughout one’s career. Judge Albertina Ho has proven so many times the temptations in the form of gifts or even money that she has rejected over the years. She lives off her judge’s income. At times she even found it urgent to take up loans at the District Court’s Cooperatives Unit just to make ends meet. Currently she owns a single car and lives in a house in Yogyakarta worth Rp. 90 million (USD$10,000) which she saved up over the years from her judge’s income.

But it’s not her modesty that intrigued me then and now. It’s the fact that she managed to execute a very professional trial every single time. She always displayed such manner that a judge should be displaying. She is never bothered by who was being called in to testify or being indicted. She based her verdicts on facts. And she was not afraid to speak out her mind. She truly portrayed the Lady of Justice. She never showed any hesitation and fear each and every time she pounded her hammer to signal her final verdict, that which she always insisted on typing it on her own. All for the purpose of preserving legal discretion.

From the various articles and reports I read about her, this consistent behavior of hers has gradually earned the respect of her peers. Many senior fellow judges, public prosecutors and law professionals have such high regards for her. Most of them do not hide the fact that they are thankful each time she presides. They are certain that she would be fair and just in ruling out her final verdict.

The more I read about her, the more I grew to respect Judge Albertina Ho. Maybe the world we live in isn’t perfect. Heck, maybe this country still has loads to do to provide a better place and opportunity for its people. But it’s people like Judge Albertina Ho who, makes all the effort so worthwhile. It’s like she’s that person we’ve been waiting for that carries that torch of hope for an improved society. It’s like she is that hope.

And perhaps the next time we meet someone with the same integrity and discipline as Judge Albertina Ho, it would not be for another century or so… but with her existence today in our legal system as it is,  I have faith that our nation would be able to ‘produce’ other young Albertina Hos for our future. And I’m proud to have her as one of my country’s legal officials.

Judge Albertina Ho, wither not in your persistence for the cause. The whole nation is behind you![Copied from womencreathink.com]

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