Defendant misses retrial over journalist's death<\/p>\n
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
The Yogyakarta Military Tribunal opened on Wednesday the retrial
\nof Second Adj. Edy Wuryanto, a policeman who is accused of
\nconfiscating a notebook belonging to slain journalist Fuad
\nSyafruddin, alias Udin.<\/p>\n
The defendant, however, failed to show up at court, prompting
\njudges to postpone the retrial until the end of this month.<\/p>\n
Military Prosecutor Lt. Col. Sumartono, who is also the head
\nof the Yogyakarta Military prosecution office, told the court
\nthat he could not present the defendant because he had been
\nassigned to duty in conflict-torn Poso, Central Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
"Police Com. Adj. Rudi Haryanto at Police Headquarters
\ninformed me via telephone just last night," Sumartono told the
\njudges -- Lt. Col. Riza Thalib, Maj. Sinoeng Hardjanti and Capt.
\nPuspayadi.<\/p>\n
Presiding Judge Lt. Col. Riza Thalib expressed disappointment
\nover Wuryanto's failure to attend the session and accused Police
\nHeadquarters of making up excuses so the defendant would not have
\nto attend the trial.<\/p>\n
"There are many other police officers who could be assigned
\nthere (to Poso). Why should they (the police) assign him, a
\nperson with a trial? Besides, who is Edy Wuryanto? He is not a
\ngeneral. Why is it so difficult to present him at court?" Riza
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He also ordered prosecutors to present Wuryanto when the
\nretrial resumed later this month and to coordinate with police
\ntop brass in Jakarta to ensure the defendant's attendance.<\/p>\n
"I myself will send a report to the National Police Chief and
\nask him to let the defendant appear at court. This is a very old
\ncase -- it's been nearly ten years. We have the responsibility to
\nfind the truth," Riza told the court.<\/p>\n
Udin, a journalist with local daily newspaper Bernas, was
\nattacked by unidentified persons at his home in Bantul on Aug.
\n13, 1996, and died three days later from his injuries at
\nYogyakarta Bethesda Hospital without regaining consciousness.<\/p>\n
Udin was renowned for his critical reports on the local
\nadministration's policies and corrupt practices.<\/p>\n
Wuryanto, currently assigned to the National Police
\nHeadquarters' detectives unit, was the former coordinator of a
\nteam established by Bantul Police to investigate Udin's murder.<\/p>\n
Dwi Sumaji, alias Iwik, was once tried as the sole suspect in
\nthe murder case, but was eventually acquitted due to the lack of
\nevidence. Many believed that Iwik was just a scapegoat arranged
\nby Edy's team.<\/p>\n
In August 2001, Wuryanto was sentenced to 10 months in jail
\nfor withholding Udin's notebook -- a key piece of evidence --
\nthat he once borrowed from Udin's family.<\/p>\n
Wuryanto filed an appeal with the higher military court, which
\nordered the Yogyakarta Military Court to retry the case on the
\ngrounds that the previous trial contained legal flaws.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/defendant-misses-retrial-over-journalists-death-1447893297",
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