Orangutan-owner's trial postponed

Orangutan-owner's trial postponed

The first trial of an alleged owner of an endangered species
failed to kick off on Wednesday at the South Jakarta District due
to the absence of a witness from the Jakarta Police Headquarters.

The trial, which opened at about 4:30 p.m, was postponed, even
though the defendant, Sumarto, the alleged owner of two illegal
orangutans, Yunus Makasau, an expert from the Department of
Forestry and prosecutors had been waiting for the trial since 9
a.m.

Sumarto is the first person in the city to stand trial for
allegedly owning a protected animal. He is the owner of an animal
show group, which performs at Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta. The
orangutans, named Widodo and Karmila, have been seized by the
authorities.

There are several other similar cases currently under police
investigation. The cases were disclosed following several raids
on the homes of alleged owners of endangered species.

In fact, the postponement was bizarre as chief prosecutor
Bangkit S. was supposed to read his indictment against the
defendant at the first session of the trial.

The prosecutor attempted to speed up the hearing as is often
the case in a petty criminal case. Here, a petty crime, involving
the violation of the Criminal Code carries a maximum penalty of
three months in jail and can be settled within days.

A trial dealing with a crime that carries a maximum jail
sentence of more than three months is more lengthy and takes
around six months to reach a settlement.

Presiding Judge Tusanai Djafri adjourned the hearing until
next week. -- JP