Hearings on PDI-related cases continue<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A housewife and a food vendor were tried
\nyesterday in separate hearings at the Central Jakarta District
\nCourt, for insulting the Armed Forces (ABRI) before the July 27
\nriots and damaging property during the riots.<\/p>\n
The 44-year-old housewife, Nurhayati, a staunch supporter of
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted chairwoman of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI), is charged with insulting the Armed
\nForces in a speech at the free speech forum at the party's
\nheadquarters in June.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Darwis Lubay said the defendant's speech condemned
\nABRI, when she said: \"ABRI had the heart to kick a woman.\"<\/p>\n
The prosecutor said Nurhayati saw a woman trampled on by a
\nsoldier in a bloody clash which broke out between soldiers and
\nMegawati's supporters in front of Gambir railway station.
\nMegawati's supporters marched to the street on June 20 protesting
\nthe government-sanctioned Medan congress, which toppled Megawati
\nas the party's chairperson.<\/p>\n
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum seven years jail
\nfor sowing hatred against the government.<\/p>\n
Nurhayati was also accused of slandering the authorities, an
\noffense that carries a maximum penalty of 18 months jail.<\/p>\n
Presiding Judge Gatam Taridi adjourned the trial until next
\nweek.<\/p>\n
In a separate hearing, Sugeng Prayitno, a 24-year-old vendor,
\nSugeng Prayitno, was accused of pelting a used car showroom with
\nstones on Jl. Suprapto, Central Jakarta, during the riots.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Fauzi Yunus said the showroom's owner, Johan
\nDjiewari, claimed he suffered losses of Rp 30 million ($9,300).<\/p>\n
If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to five years.<\/p>\n
Testimony<\/p>\n
Police Second Sgt. Syamsul Arifin, who testified at Sugeng's
\ntrial said he did not see the stones hit the showroom. However,
\nanother police officer, Second Sgt. Bibit said he saw the
\ndefendant throwing stones at the showroom's windows, door and a
\ncar's windshield.<\/p>\n
The defendant's lawyer, Achmad Fauzan, said his client was
\ntortured during police questioning and had lost three of his
\nfront teeth.<\/p>\n
Judge Zulkifli Lubis adjourned the hearing until next week.<\/p>\n
Yesterday also saw the trials of 64 other suspected rioters.
\nThe trials took place simultaneously in six separate court rooms.
\nDefense lawyers for 37 defendants, who were tried in three
\nhearings, protested that the court had failed to present victims
\nof the alleged assaults as witnesses.<\/p>\n
Yusita, one of the prosecutors, admitted to failing to bring
\nin Dedy Suntani and Nur Cahyono, who were injured during the
\nriots. \"We have summoned them twice but we got no response,: she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Judge Gatam Taridi adjourned the trial until Wednesday.
\n(08\/16)<\/p>",
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