'Penta' ordered to pay Rp 500m to Sudjana<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A judge at the South Jakarta District Court
\nordered Penta tabloid, its executives, and a businessman on
\nMonday to pay Rp 500 million (US$73,500) in compensation for
\nslandering former mines and energy minister Ida Bagus Sudjana in
\nan article published last year.<\/p>\n
Penta, a tabloid specializing in political and economic
\ncoverage, was one of the defendants named by the prosecutors.
\nOthers were businessman Syarief Tando, the tabloid's general
\nmanager Mohammad Ishak, and members of its editorial staff -
\nMawardi Ittam, Haeru Sulaiman, Sudarto and Anang Aenai Yaqin.<\/p>\n
\"Freedom of the press is indeed assured by the Constitution,
\nbut the defendants were guilty of spreading news which was
\ndestructive and offensive to other people's feelings,\" presiding
\nJudge J.M.T. Simatupang said while reading the verdict.<\/p>\n
Previously, the plaintiff demanded the court order all the
\ndefendants to collectively pay a fine of Rp 2 trillion.<\/p>\n
The hearing was originally slated to be held in the morning,
\nbut was adjourned until Monday afternoon for unknown reasons.<\/p>\n
The judge said the defendants violated the 1982 Press Law,
\nwhich urges journalists to write stories in a responsible manner.
\nThe law also states journalists should avoid writing stories
\nwhich are destructive, dangerous for national unity and
\nslanderous.<\/p>\n
\"The article was sensational and gave the impression that
\nBapak I.B. Sudjana, who once held a ministerial post, was an
\nirresponsible person,\" said the judge.<\/p>\n
Judge Simatupang also ordered the defendants to publish
\nstatements of apology through half-page advertisements in three
\nJakarta-based newspapers -- Kompas, Suara Pembaruan, Media
\nIndonesia -- and the Denpasar-based Bali Post daily.<\/p>\n
\"The advertisements must appear in those four newspapers for
\nthree consecutive days,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The judge also obliged the defendants to pay trial expenses of
\nRp 1,230,000.<\/p>\n
\"The defendants can lodge an appeal to the Jakarta High Court
\nwithin 14 days, if they are not satisfied with the decision,\"
\nsaid the judge.<\/p>\n
The story, entitled \"I.B. Sudjana Escapes ?\", appeared in the
\ntabloid's 10th edition on Dec. 31, 1998.<\/p>\n
It accused Sudjana of abusing his power during his tenure at
\nthe Ministry of Mines and Energy from 1993 until 1998.<\/p>\n
\"Minister I.B. Sudjana transferred Rp 280 billion from state-
\nowned mining company PT Bukit Asam to his bank account,\" read the
\nstory.<\/p>\n
The judge said the tabloid editorial staff had failed to
\nconfirm the truth of the story they had published with the
\nplaintiff I.B. Sudjana.<\/p>\n
The defendants, through their lawyer Syarif H. Ali, said in
\nprevious hearings that the defendants had contacted the former
\nminister by phone, but the latter was not available for comment.<\/p>\n
After the hearing, Syarif said he would lodge an appeal to the
\nJakarta High Court. (asa)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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