'Time' hearing postponed over lawyers' delay<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Miscommunication forced judges at the Central
\nJakarta District Court to adjourn on Tuesday the hearing of a
\ncivil lawsuit filed by former president Soeharto against New
\nYork-based Time magazine.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Sihol Sitompul adjourned the hearing at 12:20
\np.m. in the absence of the lawyers for the former president, who
\nhad left the courtroom at 11:40 a.m.<\/p>\n
Soeharto's lawyers -- Juan Felix Tampubolon, O.C. Kaligis,
\nIndriyanto Senoadji and Mohammad Assegaff -- arrived at the court
\nat 10 a.m., when the hearing was originally scheduled to begin.
\nHowever, they apparently lost patience waiting for both Time's
\nlead lawyer, Todung Mulya Lubis, and the presiding judge.<\/p>\n
\"The lawyers for the magazine are not serious about the court
\ncase. We've been waiting for about one and a half hours but they
\nare not here yet,\" Juan Felix said before leaving the courtroom.<\/p>\n
Lelyana Santosa, a junior lawyer on Time's defense team, was
\nthe only lawyer for the magazine who arrived at the courtroom for
\nthe scheduled start of the hearing.<\/p>\n
In the previous hearing, judge Sihol said Tuesday's hearing
\nwould begin at 10 a.m., with the court scheduled to hear
\ntestimony from witnesses called by the magazine.<\/p>\n
Todung and fellow lawyer Kamal Firdaus appeared in the
\ncourtroom around 12:00 a.m, about 20 minutes after Soeharto's
\nlawyers had left.<\/p>\n
Todung dismissed Juan Felix's assertion they were not taking
\nthe proceedings seriously.<\/p>\n
\"We were not late. I was informed by judge Sihol the hearing
\nwould begin at 12:00,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Sihol entered the courtroom shortly after
\n12:00, accompanied by judges Endang Sri Sumarsih and Sri Murwati.<\/p>\n
In his opening remarks, judge Sihol apologized for any
\nconfusion. \"I don't know who should be blamed for the belated
\nhearing, since I had a meeting outside the courtroom. I apologize
\nto the witnesses.\"<\/p>\n
Todung used the opportunity to propose the court call Soeharto
\nto testify.<\/p>\n
\"His presence here, after he recovers from his illness, is
\nimportant for verification purposes,\" Todung said.<\/p>\n
Sihol said he would consider the proposal. \"There is no
\nobligation to present (Soeharto) at the hearing, but the chance
\nis still open for his presence as there might be some relevant
\nquestions he will have to answer.\"<\/p>\n
He then adjourned the hearing until next week, at which time
\nthe court will hear testimony from witnesses.<\/p>\n
Sihol later admitted he only informed Time's lawyers the
\nhearing would be delayed until 12:00.<\/p>\n
\"Time's lawyers appeared at the district court two days ago
\nand I told them I had a meeting on Tuesday morning with judges at
\nthe Supreme Court and that I would be late for the hearing,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Soeharto filed a civil lawsuit against the magazine in July
\nlast year. He is seeking Rp 189 trillion (US$27 billion) in
\ncompensation for a story Time published which stated the former
\npresident and his family amassed a $15 billion fortune during his
\n32-year reign. (asa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/time-hearing-postponed-over-lawyers-delay-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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