Court blamed for Manuputty's flight

JAKARTA: The Attorney General's Office (AGO) blamed the Supreme Court (MA) on Wednesday for the absconding of the convicted leader of the South Maluku Republic (RMS) separatist group, Alexander Manuputty, saying that Supreme Court administrative officials were late in informing the prosecutors about its rejection of his appeal.

Attorney General M.A. Rachman told the House of Representatives' Commission II that the Supreme Court had issued its verdict on Oct. 29, 2003, but his office only received the notification on Nov. 21.

"He was released from the prison on Nov. 8. Had we known that the Supreme Court had turned down his appeal, we would have kept him in jail," said Rachman.

Manuputty, who was sentenced to four years (not three years as stated on Wednesday), slipped out of the country before prosecutors could enforce the verdict on Nov. 21.

Rahman said his office would question the Supreme Court officials involved as suggested by commission members. --JP