Indian school's principal acquitted of all charges

JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Court has ordered the restoration of Ram Gulumal, 56, to the position of principal of the Gandhi Memorial School, after acquitting the Indian national of all charges of giving false information and manipulation of school funds.

Ram Gulumal was tried last year and sentenced to a year in prison on charges of making false statements and manipulation of school funds. The charges were pressed by the Bombay Merchants' Association as the founders of the school.

Both the Jakarta High Court and the Supreme Court on appeal acquitted Ram of the charges of manipulation of funds.

The charge of giving false information in 1974 during the formation of the Gandhi Memorial Foundation, which was to take over the functions of the Bombay Merchants' Association, was dismissed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court considered the charges not proven and declared Gulumal innocent.

The Supreme Court's decision was made by a panel of judges chaired by Samsoedin Aboebakar.

The defense lawyers from the Albert Hasibuan law firm announced on Saturday that the decision on Ram Gulumal was handed down on July 17 by the Central Jakarta Court.

Answering questions on the Supreme Court's decision, Indian Ambassador Sudhir Takaram Devare said he had no comment.

"All I can say is that the school still belongs to and is run by the Gandhi Memorial Foundation, and the ambassador as patron," said Devare.

To replace Gulumal pending the final court decision the foundation had appointed an acting principal. Sources from the Gandhi Memorial International School at Ancol said the school's present principal is A.V. Singh.

The Bombay Merchants' Association's lawyer Amir Syamsuddin was not available for comment.

Commenting on a document, which Gulumal was reportedly required to sign for the handing over of the Gandhi Memorial School at Ancol to the Bombay Merchants' Association, the defense lawyers said it had no legal basis because it was signed while the case was still under police investigation. They also said the takeover was done when Ram was under detention.

The Supreme court has ordered the return of the deed establishing the Gandhi Memorial Foundation to Gulumal, thus indicating that the document was still valid.

The deed, registered with public notary Atmadiredja, concerns the establishment of the Gandhi Memorial Foundation by Ram Gulumal and colleagues, with the knowledge of the Indian embassy and with the Indian ambassador acting as patron. The foundation engages in the promotion of educational activities. (01)