Judges delay disco owner's verdict for 'fine-tuning'

JAKARTA (JP): A panel of four judges cited "composition" problems as the reason behind its inability to hand down a verdict on a disco owner charged with drug possession.

"We are not yet ready with the verdict so we are adjourning the trial for a week," presiding Judge Soetatmo Hadibroto said yesterday, nine days after the last session was adjourned.

Judge Soetatmo said after the trial that he and the other judges are still perfecting the "editorial" content of the verdict.

The North Jakarta District Court is hearing the case of HS, the 38-year-old owner of the Hailai Discotheque arrested for the possession of two marijuana cigarettes (weighing 0.9335 grams) and seven-and-a-half Ecstasy pills.

The contraband was found by the police in his limousine during a raid on the disco last July. His limo was parked at the main gate to the Ancol Dreamland recreational center on Jl. Lodan, North Jakarta.

Soetatmo denied speculation that the verdict was postponed due to "outside influences."

HS, who is believed to be politically well-connected, was represented by lawyer Amir Syamsuddin.

In an earlier trial, defense lawyer Amir asked the court to acquit his client of all charges, asserting that the court had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his client was guilty.

The government prosecutor is demanding that the defendant be sentenced to at least six months imprisonment for violating Article 36 of the 1976 Narcotics Law. (26)