Eurico's trial adjourned

JAKARTA (JP): The trial of former East Timor militia leader Eurico Guterres was adjourned on Thursday after two high ranking police witnesses failed to appear in the North Jakarta District Court.

Former East Nusa Tenggara police chief Brig. Gen. John Lalo, who is an expert staff at the National Police headquarters, and Maj. Gen. A. Sutiyono, assistant chief for operations at the headquarters, were expected to clarify a point over charges that Eurico had instigated his men to reclaim their weapons at a local police office in East Nusa Tenggara.

Presiding judge Suwardi decided to resume the hearing next Tuesday.

Eurico's lawyer Suhardi Somomoelyono said that the two witnesses were with his client at the office of the Belu detective police's chief during the incident, which took place after a ceremony of the arms handover at the headquarters presided over by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri last year.

Earlier in the hearing, the court granted the request of the defendant, who is under house arrest, to move from his rented house in Cipayung, East Jakarta, to another house in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, where he would live with his wife and three children. (bby)