Probosutedjo, Soeharto on losing end in workers' suit<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A judge at the Central Jakarta District Court
\nruled on Tuesday that former president Soeharto and businessman
\nProbosutedjo pay Rp 435 million (US$54,375) for unlawfully
\ndismissing 80 handicapped workers from their jobs at a workshop
\nin August last year.<\/p>\n
"The management of the Swa Prasidya Purna Workshop for the
\nHandicapped dismissed the workers without earlier obtaining
\nproper authorization from the Harapan Kita Foundation, which
\nowned the workshop," presiding judge Ali Akmal said in a hearing
\ncrowded with dozens of former workers of the workshop.<\/p>\n
"The workshop board of management had indeed received an
\napproval from Soeharto, the chairman of the foundation, to close
\nthe workshop due to the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
"The move, however, violated the workshop's statutes, which
\nrequires approval from the Harapan Kita Foundation Board of
\nExecutives before the workshop management could close the
\nworkshop," said Ali.<\/p>\n
Probosutedjo, chairman of the workshop, announced in August
\nlast year that the workshop was bankrupt. The announcement led to
\nthe automatic dismissal all the workers, including the 80
\nhandicapped staff. Probosutedjo is Soeharto's half brother.<\/p>\n
Ali said the foundation had neglected its responsibility to
\nmaintain the existence of the workshop.<\/p>\n
"The foundation should seek new sponsors to save the workshop
\nand to prevent any workers' dismissals," he said.<\/p>\n
He said the panel of judges rejected the first defendant
\nworkshop management's defense statement, which argued that the
\nworkshop-workers relationship was merely "voluntarily."<\/p>\n
"The court found working relations between the two parties, as
\nstipulated in an agreement sponsored by the Manpower Ministry's
\nCommittee on Labor Dispute Settlement, on the workers' severance
\npay," Ali said.<\/p>\n
The committee ordered the management of the workshop last year
\nto disburse the severance pay to help settle the dispute.<\/p>\n
The 80 disabled workers filed a lawsuit with the court early
\nthis year against their dismissal. Probosutedjo was named as the
\nfirst suspect, with Soeharto the second.<\/p>\n
The workers demanded the two defendants pay compensation of Rp
\n103.8 billion (US$15.7 million).<\/p>\n
Ali said the court was not responsible for issuing the verdict
\non the severance pay, citing that it was the responsibility of
\nthe labor dispute settlement committee.<\/p>\n
Ali said the first and the second defendants were ordered to
\npay all the workers' expenditures for monthly telephone and
\nelectricity bills.<\/p>\n
"The defendants, together, have compensated for the workers'
\nlosses, worth Rp 35 million (US$ 4,375)," he said.<\/p>\n
The judge said the two defendants also had to pay the
\nimmaterial losses suffered by the workers for the prosecution.<\/p>\n
"The two defendants must pay Rp 400 million for immaterial
\nlosses within eight days after the issuance of the verdict," said
\nAli.<\/p>\n
The workers abruptly shouted "Alhamdulillah" (Thank God) and
\n"Allahu Akbar" (Allah the Great) after the presiding judge
\ncompleted the reading of the verdict.<\/p>\n
Syamsul Hadi, one of Probosutedjo lawyers, said after the
\nhearing that his camp would lodge an appeal with the Jakarta High
\nCourt. (asa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/probosutedjo-soeharto-on-losing-end-in-workers-suit-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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