Court told to seize Abdurrahman's assets

Court told to seize Abdurrahman's assets

JAKARTA (JP): Former secretary-general of the forestry
ministry, Soeripto, demanded the Jakarta District Court seize
property belonging to President Abdurrahman Wahid, a building
and land on Jl. Warung Sila in Ciganjur, South Jakarta, as part
of compensation he sought for alleged defamation, news portal
detikcom reported.

Soeripto's lawyer Masiga Bugis said on Monday that Soeripto
also demanded a payment of Rp 3.7 billion (US$336,000) for
material and moral compensation.

Soeripto further demanded that the President publish his
apology in three national newspapers and five electronic media
for one week.

Soeripto was dismissed by Abdurrahman in March. The President
alleged Soeripto had held a meeting to plot his downfall and had
aided in the escape of the fugitive Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra.

Yosef Suwandi of the Attorney General's Office, representing
Abdurrahman Wahid, said that the defamation charges were
unsubstantiated, saying "the allegations (of defamation) were
based on rumors."

He said Soeripto's dismissal was aimed at improving efficiency
in the ministry.