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)