Mamiek on probation over loss of gun

Mamiek on probation over loss of gun

JAKARTA (JP): The daughter of former president Soeharto, Siti
Hutami Endang Adiningsih, was handed a 30-day probation period
for failing to report the loss of her gun.

"If, for the next thirty days from today, the defendant
commits any crime, she'll get 10 days in jail," judge Asep Iwan
Irawan told the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday.

Asep declared Hutami, popularly known as Mamiek, guilty of
violating Article 7 and Article 33 of the Ordonnantie
(Regulation) on firearms, dated March 19, 1937.

The Articles carry a maximum sentence of three months in jail
or a fine of Rp 7,500 (about U.S. 70 cents).

The defendant was accompanied by her lawyers, Juan Felix
Tampubolon and Wimboyono, during the hearing, which also heard
the testimonies of four witnesses, including police officers and
Mamiek's servant Abdul Azis.

After the one-hour trial, Asep said regardless of who the
defendant is, an owner of a firearm must immediately report its
loss.

"Why do you think firearms, most of them untraceable, fall
into the hands of robbers and murderers? It's because gun owners
lease their guns to criminals, or owners fail to report their
loss, and subsequently they end up in the wrong hands," Asep
said.

He said Mamiek's reason for the delay in reporting the loss of
her gun, a .22 millimeter Colt caliber, was that she was taking
care of her father.

Soeharto had failed to attend the three court sessions of his
$571 million dollar graft case due to ill health, a reason which
the South Jakarta District Court used to dismiss the case last
September.

"Mamiek was supposed to extend her gun permit on April 1, but
she only got around to it on Oct. 23, and it was then that she
realized the gun was missing. That is just careless (behavior),"
Asep said.

A clerk at the district court requesting anonymity said that
normally judges would fine defendants Rp 7,500.

"I guess this judge wants to show all gun owners that they
must be responsible and extra careful possessing something as
dangerous as a firearm," he said.

The public recently lauded Asep, considered a tough judge who
formerly served at the Tangerang District Court, for handing down
death sentences to three convicted drug dealers, two of whom were
women, on Aug. 22.

The trio were part of an international drug smuggling ring and
were attempting to smuggle cocaine out of the country in January.
(ylt)