'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.