Ministry official 'wanted' in court
JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court has been urged to summon a senior Ministry of Manpower official, if necessary by force, for his repeated failure to testify in his own lawsuit.
Lawyer Moh. Assegaf said witness Jacky Iskandarsyah, the director general of manpower placement and development of the Ministry of Manpower, should be summoned as he had failed to answer to the court's three summons without acceptable reasons.
Assegaf's client, identified as AMA, was indicted for allegedly slandering Jacky by telling journalists that the latter had forced him to give a certain amount of money.
"I hope that you will order the prosecutor to force the witness to be present here," Antara quoted Assegaf as telling judge Subardi yesterday.
The witness, in his letter to the court, said he could not attend the session because he was out of town.
The defendant, identified in press reports as Abdul Malik M. Aliun, had reportedly made remarks, published by the local media, that Jacky had used Rp 700 million (US$233,333) belonging to the Association of Labor Export Companies (Apjati).
Abdul, who is the advisory chairman of Apjati, also said that about 60 percent of Rp 3 billion of the association's funds was used by ministry officials.
Jacky took offense at the allegation and filed a lawsuit against Abdul.
The defendant was charged under Article 310 of the Criminal Code, and, if proved guilty, will face a maximum punishment of nine months in jail or a Rp 4,500 fine.
Chairman of Apjati Mahfudz Djaelani testified yesterday that he handed over $81,600 to Jacky in January 1996.
"I handed over the money to him which was received by his son- in-law," Mahfudz told the judge, adding that he still had the receipt.
When the judge asked him why Jacky requested the money, Mahfudz said: "According to my (organization) secretary-general, Rustam Yusuf, the funds would be used to protect our workers in Malaysia".
He reaffirmed the defendant's statement that Jacky had used Rp 25 million for umrah, a minor pilgrimage, and $2,000 to buy a ticket for him and his wife to visit their child in the U.S.
Mahfudz said he was told by the ministry officials in 1995 that the association was required to hand over 75 percent of the money it collected from workers sent abroad.
"We eventually bowed to their demand and gave them the money," the witness said.
The ministry collects $100 from each worker working abroad. The money is used to train workers here and to help workers who are in trouble overseas.
Apjati has complained for a long time over the rampant levies imposed on them by bureaucratic officials, and a host of other problems making it difficult for them to do business.
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief launched last year a war against illegal levies, to ease the burden on companies facing strong foreign competition.
He warned his subordinates that he would severely punish those caught imposing levies. (prb)