Ex-Bantul regent set to face court martial

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The former regent of Bantul, a colonel implicated in the murder of a journalist, is soon to face a court martial in Jakarta.

The commander of the Military Police here, Lt. Col. CPM Unggul Kawistara Yudhoyuno, said on Friday that the dossiers on ex- regent Sri Roso Sudarmo may be completed "next week."

Sri Roso is believed to have ordered the murder of Bernas journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin who died in August 1996 because of his articles on corruption in the regent's administration.

His articles included pieces on the alleged Rp 1 billion bribe Sri Roso offered to the Dharmais Foundation controlled by former president Soeharto, in exchange for the assurance that he would be elected regent for another term (1996-2001).

The case, which has dragged on for two years, has involved a suspect who proved to be innocent and the disappearance of evidence -- Fuad's blood -- from the Bantul police. The Bantul police chief was transferred to Irian Jaya shortly afterward.

Speaking on Friday at his headquarters, Unggul did not disclose the charges against Sri Roso, saying consultations between investigators with other authorities related to the military court, including prosecutors, were still going on.

The police officer believed to have set up a suspect for killing the journalist, First Sgt. Edy Wuryanto, was still being interrogated at the Yogyakarta police headquarters, Unggul said.

The fact-finding team set up by the Indonesian Journalists' Association branch here to investigate the murder, expressed disappointment over continuously failing to meet Edy despite getting an earlier green light from the police.

"Edy claimed to be sick last Thursday when we had arranged to meet him," team member April Abdul Munir said. Police detective chief Lt. Col. Erwin TPL Tobing promised the team could meet Edy when he was better. (23)