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)