Terror at the courthouse<\/p>\n
A lamentable incident occurred at the courthouse. It concerned
\nnot a defendant having difficulty finding justice, but defense
\nlawyers who were ill-treated by the public. Petrus Bala Pattyona,
\na defense lawyer representing the men suspected of robbery and
\nrape in Bekasi, was beaten, stoned and trampled on by members of
\nthe public after the pretrial inquiry at the Bekasi court of
\njustice. Stones, bottles and pieces of wood also hit some of
\nPetrus' colleagues of the Syaman Ritonga law firm.<\/p>\n
We understand the public's anger towards the suspects. Acan
\nwas robbed and his wife and daughters were raped. In the context
\nof the judiciary process, however, people must respect the
\nprinciple of the presumption of innocence. As long as they have
\nnot been sentenced by the court, the suspects must be regarded
\ninnocent. This principle must be respected in order that people
\ndo not become the victims of arbitrary action.<\/p>\n
It appears that some of us still do not understand the role of
\ndefense lawyers in the judiciary process. People were unable to
\nrestrain their emotions and hence to control their actions.
\nUnless the security officers can guarantee the safety of the
\ndefense lawyers in the case of the robbery and rape, we agree
\nwith the suggestions made that the trial be moved from the Bekasi
\ncourt of justice.<\/p>\n
The judiciary process must not be hampered by acts of terror
\nby the masses. The rights of all parties involved in the trial
\nmust be respected.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/terror-at-the-courthouse-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }