Hearings postponed, judges absent

JAKARTA (JP): Nine criminal case hearings at Central Jakarta District Court were postponed yesterday due to judges attending another judge's inauguration in Cirebon, West Java.

Secretary of Central Jakarta District Court, Baharuddin Samad, said judges were permitted to go to Cirebon for the installation of Gatam Tarmidi as chief of Cirebon District Court.

"At least six judges were allowed to go, but some are still here and carrying out their duties," he said.

Eight prosecutors only received information about the missing judges at 2 a.m. and hearings had to be postponed.

Baharuddin also said there were 19 judges at the court.

Yesterday there were 15 defendants in the detention cell of the courthouse. All of their hearings were postponed.

Baharuddin said that each day at least 10 criminal cases were tried at the courthouse. (12)