Judges' absence postpones trial

Judges' absence postpones trial

JAKARTA (JP): The trial of a printer charged with defaming
President Soeharto by the South Jakarta District Court was
postponed yesterday until next week because only one of the panel
of judges was at hand.

Andi Syahputra, 32, is accused of printing an underground
magazine which ran offending articles defaming President
Soeharto.

The prosecutor's indictment last week said Andi was caught in
October ordering the printing of Suara Independen, an unlicensed
magazine published in Australia.

The indictment said that edition of the magazine published,
among other articles, an interview with Sri Bintang Pamungkas, an
outspoken government critic, talking about Soeharto's re-
election.

Andi has been charged under Article 134 of the Penal Code
which carries a maximum six years imprisonment. And Indonesian
law states that every magazine published must have a publishing
license from the government.

Arrested with him was Jazrul Zen, 60, the owner of the
printing business. His case is now being processed by the police.

The police in their raid on the printing office also
confiscated 3,000 copies of Suara Independen.

The court had planned to hear the testimonies of five
witnesses including Jazrul. a police officer, and a print worker,
but postponed the trial until next week because two of the judges
were on Idul Fitri vacation.

In the last trial, defense lawyers waived the right to respond
to the charges. (13)