Two journalists face prosecution for trespassing<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two journalists of the Sinar news magazine are
\nfacing prosecution for allegedly sneaking into the home of a
\ndaughter of former president Sukarno in search of evidence that
\nshe was having a love affair with a senior police officer.<\/p>\n
Police detectives said yesterday that they had \"strong\"
\nevidence that the journalists, Victoria I.G. Sidjabat and
\nphotographer Yul Adriansyah, had illegally entered the residence
\nof Rachmawati Soekarnoputri in Cilandak, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"They got into her front yard without permission,\" a senior
\npolice officer who is handling the case told the Jakarta Post by
\ntelephone yesterday.<\/p>\n
The journalists said they were assigned by their editors to
\nobserve Rachmawati's house on Wednesday after her estranged
\nhusband Dicky Suprapto tipped off the magazine that she was there
\nwith Lt. Col. Benny Soemarno. The 46-year-old officer is personal
\nsecretary to the city police chief.<\/p>\n
Rachmawati, 44, and Dicky, 54, have filed for a divorce with
\nthe local religious court, each accusing the other of having an
\naffair.<\/p>\n
The source said that the dossiers of the two journalists would
\nbe completed very soon and would be referred to court for
\nprosecution unless Rachmawati agreed an out-of-court settlement.<\/p>\n
The reporters face a maximum term of imprisonment of nine
\nmonths or maximum fine of Rp 4,500 (US$2) if they are found
\nguilty.<\/p>\n
Sinar Deputy Chief Editor Wikrama I. Abidin told the Post
\nyesterday: \"We're ready to face the trial. We have nothing to
\nworry about.\"<\/p>\n
He said he strongly believed that his journalists were
\ninnocent, saying that they had violated no rules because they
\nentered the residence with permission from Dicky.<\/p>\n
Police said earlier on Thursday that the two journalists
\nclimbed the fence of Rachmawati's residence and took several
\npictures of two cars parked on the lawn.<\/p>\n
Sinar Chief Editor Sjam Alamsjah, who has lodged a protest with
\nthe city police chief, said in a statement released here on
\nThursday that the journalists entered the house after a housemaid
\nopened the front gate for them.<\/p>\n
He said the journalists arrived at the house at about 9 p.m.
\non Wednesday to interview Rachmawati and prove that she and Benny
\nlived together in the house, as claimed by Dicky. They were
\nassigned the story after Dicky who came to the magazine office
\nand said that Rachmawati and Benny would be at the house that
\nevening, Alamsjah said.<\/p>\n
They went to the house together with Dicky, he added.<\/p>\n
After getting inside the house, Yul took several pictures of
\nthe two cars and the house while Victoria went to knock on the
\nfront door before a servant appeared and told them that
\nRachmawati did not want to be disturbed, Sjam said.<\/p>\n
On their way out of the house, the journalists were startled
\nwhen suddenly Rachmawati came out of the house with a gun,
\ndemanding that they leave the premises, Alamsjah said.<\/p>\n
He said that they rushed to Dicky's car and left the scene
\nimmediately. To make sure that Benny was at the house, the two
\njournalists went back to the house alone.<\/p>\n
Rachmawati then asked them to accompany her to the police
\nstation, but the two refused until a policeman from the nearby
\nCilandak sub-precinct came and one of their editors gave them
\npermission to go with the officer, Alamsjah said. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-journalists-face-prosecution-for-trespassing-1447893297",
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