Ex-Bantul regent set to face court martial

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)