JAKARTA (JP): Actress Ayu Ashari, who is on trial on charges

JAKARTA (JP): Actress Ayu Ashari, who is on trial on charges of assaulting a costume designer, told the South Jakarta district court Saturday on that she has been barred from leaving the country pending the completion of her trial.

"When I wanted to go to Singapore recently, I was surprised when I was told by immigration officials at the airport I was not permitted to leave the country," Ayu said.

The movie star said immigration officials at the Sukarno-Hatta airport informed her that the travel ban was based on a request from the prosecutor's office, which at the time was processing her indictment.

Ayu and her husband Wisnu Djodi Gondokusumo, both 25 years old and the parents of one child, are charged with assaulting Harry Gunawan, who is also a senior reporter for a teen magazine.

The prosecutor said Ayu and Wisnu assaulted Harry in March 1992 when they were filming the television series Rumahku Istanaku (My Home is my Castle).

The assault left several bruises on Harry's face.

Presiding Judge Mugihardjo said recently that if the two suspects were found guilty, they could face -- based on Article 335 of the existing Criminal Code -- a maximum of one year's imprisonment.

"As of today, I'm not allowed to leave the country. Actually I should have continued my study in the U.S., but due to the travel ban I could not go," Ayu complained.

The actress also said that she was forced to drop her plan to go on the haj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, this year because of the travel ban.

The assault on the costume designer allegedly took place at Jl. Mandala II, No. 7, Tebet, South Jakarta.

Ayu reported to Wisnu, who was accompanying her during the filming, that she felt like somebody was peeping at her when she was changing her clothes and found that the door to the dressing was slightly ajar.

Ayu, who suspected that Harry had left the door open deliberately after handing her some clothes, reported the problem to Wisnu.

Wisnu, who reportedly spoke of the incident to the director of the film series, later confronted the costume designer because he thought no action had been taken against him.

In his report, Harry said that Ayu pulled at the collar of his shirt, spit at him and slapped him several times, while Wisnu punched him repeatedly.

Harry said that he was shocked at the attack because there were no problems in his previous relationship with the couple.

The trial session was adjourned to next week. (11/bsr)