Former justice probed on 'unreasonable behavior'

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Former justice Adi Andojo Soetjipto, who currently chairs the Trisakti University Board of Rectors, underwent four hours of questioning on Wednesday by South Jakarta Police over a complaint filed by the university's former rector, Thoby Mutis.

The police named Adi a suspect in a violation of Article 335 of the Criminal Code on forcing or impeding others from doing something through unreasonable behavior. The article carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison.

The case involves the issuance of two letters addressed to students and the university senate. The first, which was signed by Adi, gave information on the establishment of the board of rectors by Trisakti Foundation in November 2003, which would act as the collective rectors and replace Mutis.

The second letter stated that the Jakarta High Court had ruled in favor of the Trisakti Foundation; thus all institutions and accounts established by the university's directors under Mutis were illegal.

At that time Mutis had filed an appeal against the verdict with the Supreme Court, rejecting its execution.

The conflict began on April 9, 2002, when Mutis split from the Trisakti Foundation and set up his own foundation to manage the university. He also set up a bank account to collect tuition fees paid by over 25,000 Trisakti's students.