Lawyer tried for defaming minister

JAKARTA (JP): A lawyer was charged in court here yesterday with defamation of State Minister of Public Housing Akbar Tanjung last year.

Lawyer Heri S. Kolopaking was accused in the Central Jakarta District Court of spreading information about what he called the illegal selling of a piece of land, owned by his clients, by Akbar Tanjung last year.

State prosecutors Uri Hasan Basri and Rosmanida told the court yesterday that the defendant told a press conference in April 1996, attended by reporters of Merdeka, Media Indonesia, and Pos Kota dailies, that Akbar had sold the land without the owners' knowledge or permission.

Prosecutors said Heri told reporters, "It was owned by Kurnia Ananda Usman and Chandra Ananda Usman".

Heri told the press his clients had asked him to tell the public about the scandal because they had reached a deadlock in their efforts to solve the problem amicably with Akbar, their uncle.

According to the prosecutors, Heri gave the reporters the chronology of the scandal and encouraged them to write about it.

The prosecutors said Heri also told the press that Akbar had sold the 7.5-hectare plot to a man called Bob Sugiarto. The plot was later sold to the city administration, the prosecutors said.

Prosecutor Uri said that a few days after the press conference the story was printed in the Media Indonesia and Merdeka dailies, and Tiras magazine.

Heri is accused of violating Article 310 (2) of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum 16 months imprisonment or Rp 4,500 (US$1.80) fine.

In response to the news stories Akbar reported the case to police, who later investigated it.

The trial was adjourned until Thursday. (13)