Hearings on PDI-related cases continue

JAKARTA (JP): A housewife and a food vendor were tried yesterday in separate hearings at the Central Jakarta District Court, for insulting the Armed Forces (ABRI) before the July 27 riots and damaging property during the riots.

The 44-year-old housewife, Nurhayati, a staunch supporter of Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), is charged with insulting the Armed Forces in a speech at the free speech forum at the party's headquarters in June.

Prosecutor Darwis Lubay said the defendant's speech condemned ABRI, when she said: "ABRI had the heart to kick a woman."

The prosecutor said Nurhayati saw a woman trampled on by a soldier in a bloody clash which broke out between soldiers and Megawati's supporters in front of Gambir railway station. Megawati's supporters marched to the street on June 20 protesting the government-sanctioned Medan congress, which toppled Megawati as the party's chairperson.

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum seven years jail for sowing hatred against the government.

Nurhayati was also accused of slandering the authorities, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of 18 months jail.

Presiding Judge Gatam Taridi adjourned the trial until next week.

In a separate hearing, Sugeng Prayitno, a 24-year-old vendor, Sugeng Prayitno, was accused of pelting a used car showroom with stones on Jl. Suprapto, Central Jakarta, during the riots.

Prosecutor Fauzi Yunus said the showroom's owner, Johan Djiewari, claimed he suffered losses of Rp 30 million ($9,300).

If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to five years.

Testimony

Police Second Sgt. Syamsul Arifin, who testified at Sugeng's trial said he did not see the stones hit the showroom. However, another police officer, Second Sgt. Bibit said he saw the defendant throwing stones at the showroom's windows, door and a car's windshield.

The defendant's lawyer, Achmad Fauzan, said his client was tortured during police questioning and had lost three of his front teeth.

Judge Zulkifli Lubis adjourned the hearing until next week.

Yesterday also saw the trials of 64 other suspected rioters. The trials took place simultaneously in six separate court rooms. Defense lawyers for 37 defendants, who were tried in three hearings, protested that the court had failed to present victims of the alleged assaults as witnesses.

Yusita, one of the prosecutors, admitted to failing to bring in Dedy Suntani and Nur Cahyono, who were injured during the riots. "We have summoned them twice but we got no response,: she said.

Judge Gatam Taridi adjourned the trial until Wednesday. (08/16)