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)