Lawyer protests judge's remark

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)