More witnesses testify for Yorrys

JAKARTA (JP): The defense lawyers of Yorrys Raweyai, a prominent figure of a youth organization charged with organizing a gambling den, presented two more witnesses at court to counter all testimonies against his client.

During a trial at the West Jakarta District Court yesterday, lawyers Tommy Sihotang and Ruhut Sitompul presented Elly Luhut and Ang Sok Kiem, two women who were arrested by the police along with 12 other alleged gamblers on the evening of July 29.

The police released seven of the arrested, four of whom were women, because they were not gambling when the police raided the house. But the remaining seven, including Yorrys, are being tried in two separate trials by the same judge and prosecutors.

Ang Sok Kiem told Presiding Judge Ismail Sebayang that she is a caterer who was engaged by Abidin, one of the seven defendants, to cook for his guests.

She said she didn't know there were games of chance being played.

"I saw no cards, coins or Mah Jong paraphernalia there, all we did that night was just dine and sing on a karaoke," she said.

A similar statement was also made by Elly Luhut, Abidin's old friend who was also one of the 14 invited guests.

"I came to Abidin's place at around 7 p.m. to give him a wedding invitation, We then talked, dined and sang. I swear I did not see anybody gambling," Elly said.

The police team raided Abidin's storehouse on Jl. Daan Mogot 125, West Jakarta on July 29 at 9.30 p.m. after two police officers claimed they had witnessed people gambling on the third floor.

Sgt. Markus, one of the two witnessing officers, earlier told the judge in the previous court session that on July 29 at 8 p.m. he and five other officers were ordered by their superior to raid the storehouse while gambling was occurring.

Markus said he entered the storehouse by using a portable aluminum ladder to climb the back wall. He said the ladder was placed on a pile of plywood so he could see into the room which was filled with people, some of whom were sitting around a table playing cards.

When the judge asked Yorrys and the other six defendants about the statements made by Ang Sok Kiem and Elly, Yorrys said that the two had told the truth.

Yorrys, the day-to-day chairman of Pemuda Pancasila youth organization, along with 14 other alleged gamblers, was apprehended on July 29 for allegedly organizing games of chance at the storehouse.

Presiding Judge Ismail Sebayang adjourned the trial until Dec. 19 to hear testimonies of other witnesses.

Prosecutor Noor Said said that he plans to present to the court the police officers who questioned the seven defendants. (mas)