'D&R' chief editor questioned for seven hours

'D&R' chief editor questioned for seven hours

JAKARTA (JP): The chief editor of Detektive dan Romantika
(D&R) magazine, Margiono, was questioned by police for at least
seven hours yesterday over his alleged involvement in the
publication of the latest edition.

The cover and editorial of D&R's March 7 edition are
considered defamatory to President Soeharto.

Commander of the National Police Detectives Corps Maj. Gen.
Nurfaizi said yesterday that Margiono was summoned to police
headquarters as a suspect in the defamation case.

"He is, so far, the only suspect in the case. But we're still
investigating so there could possibly be another suspect," he
said.

D&R has been lambasted by the government, especially the
Ministry of Information, for its cover which portrays Soeharto as
the king of spades. It is said to have defamed Soeharto both in
his capacity as president and as an individual.

Nurfaizi said Margiono was not detained.

"Not all suspects must be detained. But, we'll see later."

The two-star general said that Margiono was believed to be
responsible for approving D&R's cover which was considered to
have violated Articles 134, 136 and 137 of the Criminal Code on
defaming the head of the state.

He said Margiono was questioned by a team of investigators
from the Directorate of Police Detectives for General Affairs.

"The session started about 9 a.m.. Margiono was not
accompanied by his lawyer as he said he did not need one,"
Nurfaizi told dozens of reporters who gathered on the terrace
outside his office.

He said police had collected hard evidence, including the
magazine, information and statements from witnesses.

"We've questioned several experts, including one in
communication studies, as witnesses," Nurfaizi, who refused to
name the witnesses, said.

But a police officer, who asked for anonymity, said law expert
Loebby Loqman and a member of the Press Council's honorary board,
R.H. Siregar, were among the witnesses questioned.

The officer said Margiono arrived at headquarters about 7.30
a.m and left after the session finished about 4.30 p.m.

"Margiono is required to attend another session at 9 a.m.
tomorrow (today)," he said.

"We have seized some evidence, including 54 copies of D&R's
March 7 edition. They were copies which were left in the weekly's
newsroom."

He said the investigation would likely lead to another
suspect, also an executive at the weekly, who was believed to
have played a bigger role than Margiono in the publishing of the
controversial March 7 issue.

The Ministry of Information reprimanded the magazine last
Friday and warned its editors not to make the same mistake in the
future if they wanted to prevent "unwanted things" happening.

The Indonesian Journalists Association on the same day also
imposed its administrative sanction, not on the weekly, but on
Margiono by officially suspending him from the association for a
two-year period. (cst)