Businessman's trial delayed for 3rd time
Businessman's trial delayed for 3rd time
JAKARTA (JP): A state prosecutor asked the North Jakarta
District Court yesterday to postpone the trial of Eng San, 43, a
businessman accused of planning the murder of Nyo Beng Seng and
taking part in it.
Prosecutor Andhi Nirwanto told the court that according to the
head of the detention house in Cipinang, East Jakarta, the
defendant was sick. The defendant was yet to receive a doctor's
certificate, the prosecutor said.
It was the third postponement. The first took place last month
when the defendant's lawyers had to leave before the session
began for unknown reasons.
The trial was delayed again last week when the prosecutor said
he was not ready for a conclusion statement and asked the panel
of judges to postpone the hearing.
The defendant was charged under Article 340 of the Penal Code,
which carries the maximum death sentence.
Judge HM Bhaedowie asked the prosecutor yesterday, "How long
is the defendant going to be sick?" The question provoked
laughter from the audience.
Nyo Beng Seng, alias Suyadi Dharmansyah, owner of the Irama
Tara recording company, was stabbed to death at his second wife's
mansion in Pluit, North Jakarta, in April 1994.
Beng Seng owned several massage parlors and nightclubs in
Jakarta and organized gambling trips to exclusive locations in
Malaysia, Hong Kong and Australia.
According to police, the murder was initiated by renowned
gambler Hong Lie and other business rivals. A police arrest
warrant has been issued for Hong Lie who is said to now reside in
Singapore.
Upon the prosecutor's request, Judge HM Bhaedowie agreed to
postpone the hearing but asked the prosecutor and lawyers to
present three witnesses at the next hearing.
"These witnesses played important roles in the murder but both
the prosecutor and the lawyers had only read their testimony, and
the court found it confusing," he said.
The witnesses are Kiki Arianto, A Gun, and Hong Lie.
The judge said the court will ask the three to testify in
person and in a face to face meeting with the judges, prosecutors
and witnesses to find the truth of the matter.
The defendant's team of lawyers, Soedjono, Harjono
Tjitrosubono and Teguh Samudera asked the court for a one week
postponement. The prosecutor only asked for three days.
Outside the court, lawyer Soedjono said he was not sure
whether Hong Lie could return to Indonesia for the trial. "But we
are going to do our best to present the witness. We could make an
agreement with the police not to arrest Hong Lie upon his arrival
here."
The judge finally agreed to postpone the trial for one week.
Three people were imprisoned in August for involvement in the
murder. Agiono and Atok are now serving 20 year and 15 year jail
terms respectively. Tjen Piu was imprisoned for nine years last
October for escorting the two criminals to the mansion. (12)