Hearing into Mega insult postponed again

Due to personal commitments, a South Jakarta District Court judge postponed on Wednesday for the second time the hearing into a criminal case involving a student accused of insulting President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Judge T.H. Tampubolon left the court without giving prior notice to waiting defendant Kiastomo, prosecutor Adnan and court clerk Marsunu.

On Monday, the judge also postponed the hearing because he had to attend a funeral.

Wednesday's session was supposed to hear the judge's decision into whether or not the court would continue the trial, which is the second under Megawati's administration.

The case revolves around the burning of a paper-and-bamboo puppet which was fashioned as an image of Megawati.

According to Kiastomo's lawyer, Nila, the act was held on July 26 inside the compound of the Institute of Social and Political Sciences in South Jakarta, as part of a performance designed to lighten a student gathering on evaluating the government.

Kiastomo is accused of igniting the fire and therefore the offense, under Article 134 of the Criminal Code, of insulting the president. The article carries a maximum penalty of six years' imprisonment.-- JP