Defendant misses retrial over journalist's death

Defendant misses retrial over journalist's death

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

The Yogyakarta Military Tribunal opened on Wednesday the retrial
of Second Adj. Edy Wuryanto, a policeman who is accused of
confiscating a notebook belonging to slain journalist Fuad
Syafruddin, alias Udin.

The defendant, however, failed to show up at court, prompting
judges to postpone the retrial until the end of this month.

Military Prosecutor Lt. Col. Sumartono, who is also the head
of the Yogyakarta Military prosecution office, told the court
that he could not present the defendant because he had been
assigned to duty in conflict-torn Poso, Central Sulawesi.

"Police Com. Adj. Rudi Haryanto at Police Headquarters
informed me via telephone just last night," Sumartono told the
judges -- Lt. Col. Riza Thalib, Maj. Sinoeng Hardjanti and Capt.
Puspayadi.

Presiding Judge Lt. Col. Riza Thalib expressed disappointment
over Wuryanto's failure to attend the session and accused Police
Headquarters of making up excuses so the defendant would not have
to attend the trial.

"There are many other police officers who could be assigned
there (to Poso). Why should they (the police) assign him, a
person with a trial? Besides, who is Edy Wuryanto? He is not a
general. Why is it so difficult to present him at court?" Riza
said.

He also ordered prosecutors to present Wuryanto when the
retrial resumed later this month and to coordinate with police
top brass in Jakarta to ensure the defendant's attendance.

"I myself will send a report to the National Police Chief and
ask him to let the defendant appear at court. This is a very old
case -- it's been nearly ten years. We have the responsibility to
find the truth," Riza told the court.

Udin, a journalist with local daily newspaper Bernas, was
attacked by unidentified persons at his home in Bantul on Aug.
13, 1996, and died three days later from his injuries at
Yogyakarta Bethesda Hospital without regaining consciousness.

Udin was renowned for his critical reports on the local
administration's policies and corrupt practices.

Wuryanto, currently assigned to the National Police
Headquarters' detectives unit, was the former coordinator of a
team established by Bantul Police to investigate Udin's murder.

Dwi Sumaji, alias Iwik, was once tried as the sole suspect in
the murder case, but was eventually acquitted due to the lack of
evidence. Many believed that Iwik was just a scapegoat arranged
by Edy's team.

In August 2001, Wuryanto was sentenced to 10 months in jail
for withholding Udin's notebook -- a key piece of evidence --
that he once borrowed from Udin's family.

Wuryanto filed an appeal with the higher military court, which
ordered the Yogyakarta Military Court to retry the case on the
grounds that the previous trial contained legal flaws.