Aberson appeals defamation verdict
JAKARTA (JP): Legislator Aberson Marle Sihaloho, who was convicted by a court in July for defaming President Soeharto, has formally lodged an appeal with the Jakarta High Court.
His lawyer, Robert Keytimu, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the appeal was submitted through the Central Jakarta District Court, which gave the guilty verdict.
Aberson, a representative of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for insulting the head of state in a speech during a political rally at the PDI headquarters in Central Jakarta last year.
The rally called "the free speech forum" was organized by supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri to oppose a government- backed PDI congress. The congress removed Megawati and replaced her with Soerjadi as party chairman.
Aberson, who has remained loyal to Megawati, became the first House member to be convicted by a court while serving his five- year term.
A lawyer for jailed politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas said Monday that a team of lawyers from the Indonesian Bar Association had prepared a petition for a judicial review of his case.
The petition would be presented to the Supreme Court, Bambang Widjojanto said.
Like Aberson, Bintang was convicted for defaming Soeharto.
The Central Jakarta District Court found him guilty in May 1996 for insulting the head of state during a series of lectures in Germany in 1995. The Jakarta High Court upheld the sentence in January as did the Supreme Court in April.
Bintang is now serving his two years and 10 months jail term in Cipinang Prison, East Jakarta.
The judicial review is the last channel available for Bintang to obtain a legal reprieve. A presidential pardon is also possible, but that would require him to admit his guilt, something he has never done.
Bintang has also been charged with subversion in connection with his activities in the Indonesian Democratic Union Party, which he chairs.
The Jakarta Prosecutor's Office is still preparing the dossier for the latter trial. (05)