Prosecutor says two defendants should go free<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A state prosecutor told the Central Jakarta
\nDistrict Court yesterday that all charges against two defendants
\nshould be dropped because they were not involved in the July 27
\nriot.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor J. Kamaru told the panel of judges that Joko
\nSukarno and Firzen Saleh had not ignored a police order to leave
\nIndonesian Democratic Party's headquarters. The order was issued
\nso another group of PDI members could take over.<\/p>\n
The police ordered supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri, the
\nousted PDI chairwoman, who were occupying the building, to
\ndisperse because a group of Soerjadi supporters were ready to
\ntake over the building. Soerjadi is the officially-backed PDI
\nchairman.<\/p>\n
The takeover sparked bloody riots which killed five people,
\ninjured 149 and left 23 missing. Several buildings were burnt and
\ndamaged.<\/p>\n
Altogether 124 Megawati loyalists are being tried in court for
\ntheir alleged involvement.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor said when the police entered the PDI
\nheadquarters on July 27 defendant Joko was losing consciousness
\nso was not aware of what was taking place.<\/p>\n
\"According to testimony by many witnesses Joko had even
\nfainted before the police issued the order to disperse. He lost
\nconsciousness after he had been seriously stoned in the head,
\nbelly and legs,\" Prosecutor Kamaru said.<\/p>\n
Outside the courthouse, the defendant said witnesses told him
\npolice dragged him out of the building after he lost
\nconsciousness.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor said the other defendant, Firzen Saleh, was
\nnot at the scene when the riot occurred.<\/p>\n
\"At that time he was in another place,\" Kamaru said.<\/p>\n
Firzen said after the session he was at a coffee stall near
\nthe PDI's headquarters, when officers nabbed him.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Kamaru also asked the court to sentence 10 of the
\n37 defendants to four months and two weeks jail because they were
\nguilty of damaging buildings and harming innocent people.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, 39 defendants were tried in three separate sessions
\non charges of taking part in the riot.<\/p>\n
In another hearing, judge Sartono rejected the defense
\nlawyer's request to drop all charges against 12 defendants
\nbecause they were not guilty of assaulting people or damaging
\nproperties.<\/p>\n
\"It is your interpretation, but ours could be different,\" the
\njudge said.<\/p>\n
The judge adjourned the hearing until Monday. (05)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prosecutor-says-two-defendants-should-go-free-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }