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)