Lawyer protests judge's remark

JAKARTA (JP): A lawyer has sent a letter of protest to the city chapter of the Indonesian Bar Association over a judge's remark in court.

Henry Yosodiningrat, one of the lawyers representing Zarina, who was sentenced to jail Thursday for possession of Ecstasy, said Saturday that he was deeply offended by the presiding judge's remark.

Judge Sumantri had said, "Don't you know anything about court procedures?" The remark was made after the defense lawyers said they would appeal after Sumantri had pounded the gavel ending the session.

Henry had then retorted that Sumantri had not given them time to discuss whether to appeal.

"I'm deeply offended because the judge's comments were not only an insult to my profession but also to myself in front of millions of people watching a live television broadcast," he said.

Henry said he had submitted evidence of the incident to the association.

"I have asked for a videotape from one of the local TV stations and a recording from a newspaper, which covered the trial, to prove what happened."

Henry said some reporters had agreed to testify if the case went to court. But he said he would wait for the association's decision on what action to take.

"They are probably going to have a meeting on Monday to watch the video tape and decide what to do," he added.

Henry said he would accept whatever the association decided.

"All I'm asking is that the association faces incidents like this," he said.

"As far as I'm concerned it (the remark) has undermined a lawyer's job and there should be action to prevent such a fracas like this from happening again," he said. (12)