Artist on probation for damaging painting

Artist on probation for damaging painting

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta District Court sentenced a local
choreographer to a six-month suspended jail term with a one-year
probation period for damaging a painting valued at up to Rp 200
million (US$60,606).

On Monday, presiding judge Zulkifli Lubis found the defendant,
Sri Sugeng Edhi Kwartanto, 41, also known as Teted Sri WD, guilty
of damaging a painting by the late Hendra Gunawan. The painting
was owned by the Jakarta Art Council.

"The sentence means that you don't need to serve time in jail.
But if you commit another crime during the probation period you
will be jailed for six months along with any additional
punishment stemming from your new crime," Zulkifli said.

Teted accepted the verdict but prosecutor Lukimanto was still
considering whether to appeal the judge's decision.

Teted was charged under Article 406 of the Criminal Code and
Lukimanto had asked the court to sentence the defendant to six
months in jail.

The judge said that Teted had torn the canvas and trampled on
the painting, titled Aku dan Istriku Karmini di Lonceng Kedua (Me
and My Wife Karmini at the Second Bell), as a protest against
developer tycoon Ciputra's sculptures based on the painting.

He said Teted believed that the sculptures could spread
Hendra's communist thoughts.

The painting was painted in 1976 when Hendra -- who had been
involved in the Lekra art council, which was part of the banned
Indonesian Communist Party -- was still in jail. Hendra died in
1983.

Teted damaged the painting, which was hanging on a wall in the
Jakarta Art Council's office on Jl. Cikini Raya, on Nov. 24 last
year.

Teted earlier said that his actions were spontaneous.

"It was like a ritual," he said. "I danced on the painting."
(jun)