'Koran Tempo' countersues Sinivasan

'Koran Tempo' countersues Sinivasan

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Koran Tempo daily newspaper countersued on Monday businessman
Marimutu Sinivasan, who is probably still mourning the recent
death of his brother, for interfering with press freedom, and
demanded compensation of US$ 100 million.

"Sinivasan has interfered with press freedom and the
independence to present information based on the facts," Koran
Tempo's lawyer Atmajaya Salim told the South Jakarta District
Court.

Atmajaya said Sinivasan, who owns the country's largest
textile producer PT Texmaco Jaya Group, did not resolve his
dispute through proper procedures, such as by sending a letter of
denial or complaining to the press council, as stated in the
press law.

Besides demanding compensation, the newspaper asked Sinivasan
to make a public apology through newspapers and the electronic
media.

Sinivasan had earlier sued Koran Tempo for libel due to the
newspaper's reports on Texmaco and demanded compensation of $51
million.

Atmajaya said the newspaper's reports had no relation to
Texmaco's business performance, which has been on the decline
since the economic crisis in 1997.

"The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency recorded that
Texmaco's losses in the past three years were caused by poor
management," the lawyer said.

Besides suing Koran Tempo, Sinivasan also sued Kompas at the
Central Jakarta District Court for similar reasons and demanded
compensation of $151 million.

Kompas has also countersued Sinivasan and demanded $150
million in damages.

On Tuesday, Sinivasan's brother, businessman Marimutu
Sinivasan, died after apparently committing suicide by jumping
out of a window of his suite on the 56th floor of Aston Hotel in
South Jakarta.