Court blamed for Manuputty's flight

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