Pakpahan's case won't be reviewed

JAKARTA (JP): Chief Justice Sarwata said the Supreme Court will not issue a ruling on the review of a guilty verdict against labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan currently being examined by the East Jakarta District Court.

Sarwata maintained that the Supreme Court can only give such legal consideration when a request is made by a government institution.

"If I permit a ruling on a request made by an individual, then I would have committed collusion," Sarwata replied when asked by journalists.

A Supreme Court review of a case is issued to clear-up confusions in the legal process or to set guidance for untested procedures.

Journalists queried the chief justice over the issue in anticipation of a possible request in the Pakpahan case.

East Jakarta District Court judge Tojib Matderis examined seven of 11 witnesses for Pakpahan in a review of the verdict. The review, which will ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court, is expected to conjure up different legal interpretations.

Pakpahan filed a review of his conviction over 1994 labor riot in Medan to the Supreme Court, saying he had new evidence to support his claim of innocence.

Pakpahan was found guilty by the Medan District Court and received a three-year sentence. The Medan High Court upheld the verdict and added another year.

In 1995, the Supreme Court overturned the verdict and ordered his release. But after the prosecution appealed, another panel of judges overruled the verdict and reinstated the four-year prison term for Pakpahan. (05)