'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)