Lawyers want client exonerated

Lawyers want client exonerated

JAKARTA (JP): Defense lawyers for a lawyer on trial for
defaming a minister said yesterday the court had no legal
authority to try their client.

In a ten-page objection to the prosecutor's indictment, Luhut
Pangaribuan, Paulus R. Mahulette and Rita Olivia said that in
this case, the defendant, Heri S. Kolopaking had been acting in
his capacity as a lawyer representing his client.

The indictment said the defendant had spread false information
about what he called the illegal selling of a piece of land
belonging to his clients by Akbar Tanjung last year.

State prosecutors Uri Hasan Basri and Rosmanida said the
defendant told a press conference in April 1996 that Akbar had
sold the land without the permission from the owners.

The defense lawyers said yesterday their client was
representing his client at the press conference.

"According to the law on advocates and lawyers, the judge has
no authority to reprimand advocates/lawyers who act improperly
while defending their clients in court," Luhut said.

The defendant is a member of Ikadin, the advocates
association, and its code of ethics say the association's
honorary council is the appropriate body to take action against
members found violating the rules, Luhut said.

"No body or organization has the right to punish an advocate,
but the honorary council," he said.

Therefore the court had no authority to try the defendant, his
lawyers said.

The trial was adjourned until next week. (sur/05)