Lampung's PDI-P leader tried for attack

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: The leader of Lampung's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Anshori Yunus stood trial on Wednesday charged with attacking a construction worker last year.

Prosecutor Sanusi Musa told the Tanjungkarang District Court in Lampung that the defendant beat Subagio on June 22, 2001 and the victim sustained injuries to his right eye.

Subagio, who worked for Anshori's neighbor Hamdani, was reportedly attacked because the victim defied the defendant's warning not to construct a foundation for Hamdani's house on a plot of land allegedly belonging to Anshori.

The suspect had been detained in Rajabasa prison in Bandarlampung, but was later freed after spending only one day in detention.

The trial was tightly guarded by police along with local supporters of PDI Perjuangan, who arrived at 8 a.m.

Chief Judge S. Gani Parlaungan, who presided over the trial, opened the proceeding at 11 a.m. and closed it after the prosecutor read out his statement of claim against Anshori.

The trial went smoothly despite threats of disruption by Anshori's men within the court, was adjourned until March 10 to hear the defense plea from the defendant's lawyers. --JP