Lawyer to report Pemalang warden

PEKALONGAN, Central Java: A lawyer has threatened to report a warden in Pemalang regency to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) for violating human rights.

Bambang Mangkudilaga, a lawyer hired by defendant Sugri bin Da'am in a murder case, said that Surtam, the warden, had detained his client without warrant.

The lawyer said his client's detention should have ended on Saturday.

Sugri was initially sentenced to 19 years in prison by the Pemalang District Court for masterminding the murder of his business rival, Cakian, 48, a resident of Petarukan district, Pemalang regency.

Sugri filed an appeal to the Central Java High Court after the verdict by the lower court, and his sentence was reduced to 10 years in prison. Sugri then filed an appeal to the Supreme Court, all the while maintaining his innocence.

He was detained in the prison pending the Supreme Court's decision on his appeal.

By law, he should have been detained for 30 days and then released.

"In fact, Sugri is still being detained even though his detention period is over. This is in violation of the law," said Bambang.

Surtam acknowledged that Sugri's detention period expired on Saturday.

"But we cannot release him as the Supreme Court is due to extend his detention period immediately," he said, adding that he was ready to face a lawsuit if necessary. -- Antara