Ita's parents to sue scientist

Ita's parents to sue scientist

JAKARTA (JP): Parents of Marthadinata, better known as Ita,
the teenager slain by her neighbor last October, are filing suit
again noted forensic expert Mun'im Idries for disclosing their
daughter's autopsy results to the media.

Lawyer Frans Hendra Winarta said in a statement made available
to The Jakarta Post on Friday that Mun'im humiliated the
deceased's family, including parents Leo Haryono and Wiwin
Suryadinata, and created a negative public image of Ita through
remarks carried in the Suara Pembaruan afternoon daily and Tempo
newsweekly.

Ita, 18, was found dead from multiple stab wounds in her home
in the Sumur Batu area of Central Jakarta on Oct. 9.

The family sought a public apology from Mun'im but he did not
respond, Frans said. He instead wrote an article in Republika
daily in which Frans said he stated a forensic expert was not
bound to keep confidentiality.

According to Frans, Mun'im could be charged under Article
1365 of the civil code.

The lawsuit will be filed by Marthadinata's parents at West
Jakarta District Court on Friday.

Mun'im, a senior forensic expert at state-run Cipto
Mangunkusumo General Hospital who conducted Ita's postmortem
examination, was not available for comment. (emf)