Lawyer tried for defaming minister<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A lawyer was charged in court here yesterday
\nwith defamation of State Minister of Public Housing Akbar Tanjung
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Heri S. Kolopaking was accused in the Central Jakarta
\nDistrict Court of spreading information about what he called the
\nillegal selling of a piece of land, owned by his clients, by
\nAkbar Tanjung last year.<\/p>\n
State prosecutors Uri Hasan Basri and Rosmanida told the court
\nyesterday that the defendant told a press conference in April
\n1996, attended by reporters of Merdeka, Media Indonesia, and Pos
\nKota dailies, that Akbar had sold the land without the owners'
\nknowledge or permission.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors said Heri told reporters, \"It was owned by Kurnia
\nAnanda Usman and Chandra Ananda Usman\".<\/p>\n
Heri told the press his clients had asked him to tell the
\npublic about the scandal because they had reached a deadlock in
\ntheir efforts to solve the problem amicably with Akbar, their
\nuncle.<\/p>\n
According to the prosecutors, Heri gave the reporters the
\nchronology of the scandal and encouraged them to write about it.<\/p>\n
The prosecutors said Heri also told the press that Akbar had
\nsold the 7.5-hectare plot to a man called Bob Sugiarto. The plot
\nwas later sold to the city administration, the prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Uri said that a few days after the press conference
\nthe story was printed in the Media Indonesia and Merdeka dailies,
\nand Tiras magazine.<\/p>\n
Heri is accused of violating Article 310 (2) of the Criminal
\nCode, which carries a maximum 16 months imprisonment or Rp 4,500
\n(US$1.80) fine.<\/p>\n
In response to the news stories Akbar reported the case to
\npolice, who later investigated it.<\/p>\n
The trial was adjourned until Thursday. (13)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lawyer-tried-for-defaming-minister-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }