Psychologist testifies 'Tempo' story hurt Tomy<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
An expert witness told the Central Jakarta District Court that
\nthe first two paragraphs of an article published by Tempo
\nmagazine last year had insulted a well-connected businessman.<\/p>\n
Psychologist Sarlito Wirawan Sarwono told the court on Monday
\nthat the paragraphs, which likened Tomy Winata to a scavenger,
\nwould leave a lasting impression.<\/p>\n
The article, which was titled Ada Tomy di Tenabang? (Is There
\nTomy in Tanah Abang), was published after a fire gutted the
\nbiggest textile market in town, in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Sarlito, who is also a professor at the University of
\nIndonesia, was testifying in the defamation trial against Tempo
\njournalists over the article. He explained that the article had
\nimplied that Tomy would have benefited from the fire.<\/p>\n
Tempo had reported in its March 3 to March 9, 2003 edition
\nthat Tomy had proposed the renovation of the market three months
\nbefore the fire. The article called Tomy a "big scavenger".<\/p>\n
"Although the opening paragraphs were based on two independent
\nfacts, the way in which the writer connected those facts would
\nhave a lasting psychological impact. Readers would surmise that
\nTomy was like a scavenger in that he would profit from the fire,"
\nSarlito told the courtroom.<\/p>\n
He did, however, praise the writer for his "skillful
\ntechnique".<\/p>\n
Sarlito said, despite the inclusion of Tomy's denial of the
\nspeculations in the same article, the damage had already been
\ndone. He explained that the article had been structured so that
\nthe insinuation against Tomy had appeared in the lead.<\/p>\n
"In most cases, if a negative statement comes first, an
\naffirmative remark will not rectify it," Sarlito said.<\/p>\n
The weekly's chief editor Bambang Harymurti along with
\njournalists Ahmad Taufik and T. Iskandar Ali are standing trial
\non the charge of violating Article 14(1) of the 1946 Criminal
\nCode. They are accused of deliberately disseminating rumors and
\npublishing a report that could provoke public disorder.<\/p>\n
If convicted, they could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years
\nimprisonment.<\/p>\n
The defamation trial on Monday was also marked by the
\nreplacement of judge Andriani Nurdin with presiding judge
\nSoeripto.<\/p>\n
"Ibu Andriani has been promoted. She assumed her new position
\nas head of the Bogor District Court on Wednesday last week,"
\nSoeripto said.<\/p>\n
However, he refused to comment on the suggestion that
\nAndriani's promotion was related to the Tempo case. "The Ministry
\nof Justice and Human Rights had issued a letter officiating her
\npromotion months ago," he said.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the changeover, Tempo lawyer Trimoelja D.
\nSoerjadi said that the decision was unusual. "In the whole of my
\ncareer as lawyer, this is the first time that a presiding judge
\nhas been transferred to a new position while still handling a
\ncase," the lawyer said.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Soeripto scheduled another hearing for March
\n23, to hear media experts Andi Abdul Muis and Ibnu Ahmad.<\/p>",
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