Police defendant fails to appear in court again<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Second Adj. Insp. Edy Wuryanto, who is
\naccused of destroying evidence, failed to appear for the second
\ntime at his trial at the Yogyakarta Military Tribunal on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
\"I've just received a fax from the National Police
\nHeadquarters which says that Edy had five days off from Dec. 1 to
\nDec. 5 due to illness. But I don't know why he failed to show up
\nin court today,\" military prosecutor Lt. Col. Roesdi HR told the
\nhearing.<\/p>\n
Roesdi also said he had sent a summons to Edy on Nov. 21, and
\nthe National Police Headquarters had confirmed that the defendant
\nhad received it. \"Edy did not appear in court, however.\"<\/p>\n
Roesdi said he had made several telephone calls to the
\nNational Police Headquarters Investigation Corps -- where Edy is
\nstationed -- since 9 a.m., seeking an explanation to Edy's
\nabsence. \"But all I got was unsatisfactory answers until the
\nsession began at about 11.00 a.m..<\/p>\n
\"I could not reach the top officer there. Only the staff and
\ncivilian employees talked to me, but they gave me unclear
\ninformation,\" Roesdi said.<\/p>\n
Responding to the prosecutor, presiding judge Lt. Col. Anas
\nChaniago said every effort must be made to bring the defendant
\nbefore the tribunal.<\/p>\n
\"Otherwise, we will have to hand the case over to the Jakarta
\nMilitary Tribunal, based on Law No. 31\/1997,\" said Anas.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Roesdi then told the court that he would send a
\nspecial report to the Military General Prosecutor's Office in
\nJakarta about Edy's absences. A copy of the report will be sent
\nto the National Police chief.<\/p>\n
\"I will have to do that before sending the third summons to
\nthe defendant. In this way, we hope that we will be able to bring
\nEdy here,\" said Roesdi.<\/p>\n
Edy is accused of destroying evidence in the murder case of
\nFuad Muhammad Syafruddin, alias Udin. Edy was then chief of
\ninvestigation at Bantul District Police in 1996.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor said Edy had violated Article 417 of the
\nCriminal Code on power abuse, Article 372 on stealing and Article
\n103 of the Military Criminal Code on excessive authority.<\/p>\n
If convicted, the defendant may face a five-year jail term.<\/p>\n
Udin was a reporter for the Bernas daily, based in Yogyakarta.
\nUdin's family, with the help of a team of lawyers from the
\nYogyakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), has tried since Sept. 27,
\n1996, to bring the case before the local military tribunal.<\/p>\n
However, Yogyakarta Police responded in July 2000, when it
\nordered Edy to appear before court. To the surprise of many, Edy
\nwas moved to the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta in
\nAugust. This has made it difficult for the prosecutor's office to
\ncontinue legal procedures.<\/p>\n
Edy's first trial was scheduled on Sept. 19, 2000. However, he
\nfailed to appear. The trial was canceled and rescheduled for
\nSept. 21, 2000. Again, Edy failed to appear in court, and the
\nfirst hearing continued without the defendant present. (swa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-defendant-fails-to-appear-in-court-again-1447893297",
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