Hokiarto too sick to hear ruling

JAKARTA: The South Jakarta District Court canceled on Wednesday its delivery of a verdict on businessman Hokiarto, who was tried for his involvement in a land scam that caused the state Rp 48.7 billion (US$5.6 million) in losses, as the defendant called in sick.

Hokiarto is being charged under Law No. 3/1971 on corruption, which carries a maximum life sentence.

His lawyer Albert Nadeak handed over a letter from a doctor at Husada Hospital, West Jakarta, stating that Hokiarto was sick. However, the letter did not explain his ailment nor condition.

The same court had earlier freed the 69-year-old businessman in September 2002 from a similar case that caused state losses of Rp 95.4 billion, due to ambiguities in the indictment. It also ruled earlier that the case should have been taken before the North Jakarta District Court, which had jurisdiction over the scene of the crime.

Other defendants in the case -- Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra and Ricardo Gelael -- were both sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in 1999, while Beddu Amang, who was also involved in the scam, is serving his four-year jail term.

Presiding judge Machmud Rohimi adjourned the reading of the verdict until next Monday. -- JP