Lawyer to report Pemalang warden

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