More alleged rioters brought to court

JAKARTA (JP): Four more people appeared in court yesterday over their alleged role in the July 27 riot but the prosecutor did not read his indictment because the defendants did not have legal representation.

The four are among the 124 supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri, the deposed Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) leader, being tried at Central Jakarta District Court.

The riot started when supporters of Soerjadi, the officially- backed PDI leader, seized control of the party's headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, from Megawati's loyalists.

However, Central Jakarta Prosecutor Office sources said yesterday two of the four defendants were not PDI members.

Police said one is a United Development Party (PPP) member and the other a Golkar member.

The four are charged with assaulting security officers and attacking a police station near the PDI headquarters.

They are also accused of ignoring police order to disperse when they were found amidst a mob near the riot scene.

Presiding Judge Pangeran Siregar adjourned the hearing until Thursday next week because of the defense lawyer's absense.

After the session, Sukasto, the father of defendant M. Nur, said that he contacted the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) to get lawyer on Tuesday but all their lawyers were busy.

However, Munir, an LBH official said his office had not been contacted by the defendant's father.

Meanwhile, in the other four sessions yesterday, the court heard defense statements from lawyers representing Megawati's supporters.

Verdicts will be handed down at the end of the month. (05)