'Time' is liable for its story: Soeharto's lawyer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A lawyer for former president Soeharto said on
\nTuesday that New York-based Time Magazine is liable for its May
\n24, 1999 cover story, although other publications corroborated
\nwith similar stories.<\/p>\n
\"Although our client has not sued other publications, this
\ndoes not mean that Time is not guilty,\" said O.C. Kaligis, one of
\nSoeharto's lawyers, at the Central Jakarta District Court.<\/p>\n
Kaligis dismissed the assertion by Time's lawyers that the
\nfact that Soeharto has failed to sue other publications is
\ntelling in itself.<\/p>\n
\"The way the defendant prepared its defense statement (by
\nquestioning Soeharto's failure to sue other publications) proves
\nthat it is guilty,\" he told the hearing presided over by judge
\nSihol Sitompul.<\/p>\n
He said the magazine has not provided evidence for its
\nallegation that Soeharto transferred US$9 billion to banks in
\nSwitzerland and Austria.<\/p>\n
Kaligis said that a cartoon in the magazine, which depicted
\nSoeharto hugging his private home in London, was also slanderous.<\/p>\n
\"It brings an impression to people that Soeharto is greedy.\"<\/p>\n
Kaligis said in the hearing, which was also attended by Time's
\nlawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, that all media reports accusing the
\nformer president of amassing a billion-dollar fortune during his
\n32-year reign were baseless.<\/p>\n
\"They need a thorough investigation to reveal the truth,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Soeharto filed a lawsuit against the weekly magazine last
\nJuly, demanding US$27 billion for materials losses and US$ 40,000
\nfor immaterial losses. These losses are claimed to result from
\nTime's allegedly slanderous articles that he and his family
\namassed a US$15 billion fortune during his reign.<\/p>\n
Judge Sihol adjourned the hearing until Feb. 15 to hear the
\nTime lawyers' defense statement. (asa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/time-is-liable-for-its-story-soehartos-lawyer-1447893297",
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