Actress Ria may not be tried for her alleged role in murder

Actress Ria may not be tried for her alleged role in murder

JAKARTA (JP): The planned trial of starlet Ria Irawan for her
alleged role in the death of a young married man at her house
five months ago may not materialize after all.

Meanwhile, the wife of the victim gave birth to a baby boy a
month ago.

The dossiers on the case are believed to have been returned to
the police by the South Jakarta prosecutor's office two times.
The police have already given their pledge that they would do all
their best to complete the documents to bring the actress to
court.

"We're quite tired of getting the dossiers from the
prosecutor's office," City Police spokesman Lt. Col. A. Latief
Rabar told The Jakarta Post here yesterday.

"But, we're still trying to give them all of the evidence that
(they) requested," he said.

The prosecutor had refused to accept the dossiers for the
trial on the grounds they were not complete.

Sources at the district prosecutor's office said that Ria
probably won't face trial because the case lacks any substantial
legal basis.

"But, will the police be willing to accept this decision?" a
reliable source, who asked to remain anonymous, queried.

In connection with the death of Rifardi Soekarnoputra, a
former boyfriend of Ria, the police charged the 24-year-old
actress with failing to tell police about the possession and use
of illegal drugs by the deceased, and the destruction of vital
evidence that could have given clues to the his mysterious death.

Found death

Rifardi, 22, was found dead at the starlet's house in Lebak
Bulus by Ria herself at around 8 a.m. on Jan. 12. However, the
actress failed to report the death to police until four hours
later, after consulting a number of people, including physicians
and a former high-ranking police officer.

The actress argued that she panicked and asked two film crew
members, who came by to pick her up for a film shooting, to
dispose of a powder-filled saucer.

Police said Rifardi had died of drug overdose.

Ria's lawyer, Hotma Sitompul, praised the hard work of the
police but urged them to stop their investigation into the case
if they failed to obtain substantial, material evidence.

The dossiers on the case have been sent back and forth to the
prosecutor's office.

"If the police have difficulties finding material evidence,
why don't they issue a letter of order to stop the
investigation?" Hotma asked.

Asked to comment on the request, Chief of the South Jakarta
Police precinct, Lt. Col. Adang Rismanto, replied: "I have no
plan to issue such a letter; we'll continue to complete the
dossiers for the prosecutor's office."

Adang had earlier admitted that the police had obtained little
or no evidence from the scene.

"So, written statements given by the actress, two other
suspects and witnesses are all that we have to go on so far.
That's not enough," he said.

At least 25 people, including Rifardi's wife and Ria's mother,
Ade Irawan -- also a noted movie star -- have been questioned by
the police.

Rifardi's junior

Rifardi's wife, Riyalti, alias Ipunk, 21, gave birth to her
first son on May 14.

So far, officers at both police precinct and prosecutor's
office refused to clarify which part of the dossiers needs to be
completed before they can be used as a legal basis for a court
trial.

Prosecutor E.M. Simandjuntak commented: "I know all details of
the case but I have no authority to explain even a word to you
without the approval of the head of the prosecutor office."

T. Derikansyah, the office head, refused to meet reporters at
his office yesterday, saying that he had a headache.

At a press conference on Feb. 19, City Police Chief Maj. Gen.
Mochammad Hindarto clarified that the movie star would be charged
with at least four violations.

Under the first charge, if found guilty, Ria may face a
maximum prison term of five years and a maximum fine of Rp 10
million ($4,700) for hampering the police in their investigation.

She might also face a maximum sentence of a year and/or a
maximum fine of Rp 1 million ($472) for failing to report to the
authorities about the possession and use of the illegal drugs by
Rifardi.

Ria might face a maximum imprisonment of nine months or a
maximum fine of Rp 4,500 ($2.10) for allegedly tampering with and
disposing of material evidence found near Rifardi's body.

She may also face another maximum sentence of four years for
allegedly destroying material evidence which was believed to have
shown the cause of Rifardi's death. (bsr)