Dossiers prepared for trial of film artist Ria Irawan
Dossiers prepared for trial of film artist Ria Irawan
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta High Prosecutor's Office will soon
present the dossiers in the case of starlet Ria Irawan to
determine whether she can be brought to court.
"After we received the dossiers for the second time from the
police recently, we sent them directly to the City High
Prosecutor's Office," chief of the South Jakarta Prosecutor's
Office, T. Derikansyah, told The Jakarta Post and Republika here
yesterday.
He said the presentation of the dossiers will be carried out
by the city high prosecutor chief at his office.
"I do not know when it will be held, but we'll invite
reporters to cover it," Derikansyah said.
The dossiers state that the 24-year-old actress violated at
least two articles of the criminal code in connection with the
death of a young businessman in her house.
Rifardi Soekarnoputra, 22, was found dead at the movie star's
home in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, on Jan. 12.
Police said that Ria failed to report to the police the
possession and use of illegal drugs by the deceased. She is also
alleged to have disposed of vital material evidence that could
have given clues to the death of the young married man.
When asked to comment on the presentation of the case by the
prosecutors, a reliable police source who is close to the case
said he welcomes the plan.
"It is no longer a new method to us," the source, who
requested anonymity, said.
Such a presentation is normally designed to obtain detailed
data of a case before the dossiers are handed over to the court,
the source added.
"If the prosecutors then find discrepancies or irregularities
on the dossiers during the presentation, then the prosecutors
themselves who must complete or improve them as required by law,"
he said.
By law, if necessary, the prosecutors are allowed to question
witnesses before sending the dossiers to the court for trial, he
said.
"The prosecutors are even allowed to stop the indictment
process if they find that the dossiers lack substantial legal
elements," he said.
The source also explained that the South Jakarta prosecutor's
office had returned the dossiers twice to the police, asking them
to complete them.
"When they returned the dossiers for the second time to us, we
sent them back without making any changes, as we believe we have
already completed everything needed," he said.
"We are wondering why they didn't stop the indictment process
as allowed by the law."
The source, however, strongly believes that Ria will be found
guilty.
Ria, he said, has admitted that she knew the deceased consumed
illegal drugs. She also admitted that she tampered with and
disposed of substantial material evidence believed to have caused
the death of Rifardi.
It will be the responsibility of the prosecutors whether or
not to arraign her in court, he said.
Ria might face a one-year jail term or a maximum fine of Rp 1
million ($472) for failing to report Rifardi's possession and use
of the illegal drugs to the police.
She may also face another maximum prison term of four years
for allegedly destroying evidence which was believed to have
caused Rifardi's death. (bsr)