21 defamation students may get YLBHI service<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI)
\nyesterday said it is ready to represent 21 students, who are
\njailed for defaming President Soeharto, in an appeal to the
\nSupreme Court after a high court reinforced their guilty verdict.<\/p>\n
The students had earlier dropped their plan to appeal against
\nthe lower court's verdict and the six month jail terms saying
\nthat they did not believe in the courts' fairness.<\/p>\n
In a new twist to their case, however, the Jakarta High Court
\nnot only upheld the ruling, it also added a few months to their
\nsentences, one by a total of 14 months, for contempt of court,
\nsaying that the students had used the court hearings for
\npolitical propaganda.<\/p>\n
The high court had acted on an appeal by the government
\nprosecutors who had insisted on stiffer punishments.<\/p>\n
Rita Serena Kalibonso of the YLBHI told The Jakarta Post
\nyesterday that the students had every right to appeal to the
\nSupreme Court because the high court had violated some procedures
\nin treating their cases. \"The students are entitled to appeal
\nagainst the verdict, and we are ready to help them.\"<\/p>\n
The court failed to inform the students on time about the
\nappeal filed by the prosecutors against the lower court's
\ndecision.<\/p>\n
The high court, she said, was late in informing the students
\nabout the reasons why the prosecutors rejected the decision.
\n\"Because of this situation, the students could not file their
\nresponse,\" she said.<\/p>\n
YLBHI lawyers represented most of the students during the
\ntrials at the Central Jakarta District Court, which were marked
\nby various controversies.<\/p>\n
Rita said the lawyers would visit the students who are being
\ndetained at the Salemba and Pondok Bambu penitentiaries to inform
\nthem about the procedures for filing an appeal.<\/p>\n
\"We will also explain to the students about the legal
\nconsiderations of the verdict,\" she added.<\/p>\n
The students were only formally notified of the high court
\nruling on Wednesday, one day after they were supposed to be freed
\nat the completion of their six month jail terms.<\/p>\n
The 21 students, including two women, were found guilty by the
\nCentral Jakarta District Court last month for defaming Soeharto
\nduring a demonstration at the House of Representatives on Dec.
\n14.<\/p>\n
The high court ruling gave the stiffest jail term, 14 months,
\nto Adi Kurniawan, who was also the most outspoken of the 21
\nstudents during their noisy trials.<\/p>\n
Next with 12 months each was one of the woman students, Yeni
\nRosa Damayanti, and Gunardi Aswantoro, Wandy Nicodemus and Teddy
\nWibisono. Six others got 10 months and the other 10 students
\nreceived eight months.<\/p>\n
Luhut M.P Pangaribuan of the YLBHI who coordinated their
\ndefense said he was not informed of the prosecutors' decision to
\nappeal the lower court verdict, in contravention of normal legal
\nprocedures.<\/p>\n
He only found out about the appeal when the Jakarta High Court
\nannounced its ruling, he said as quoted by Kompas. (par)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/21-defamation-students-may-get-ylbhi-service-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}