Pakpahan's case won't be reviewed

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)