Permadi released from jail, reunited with his family

Permadi released from jail, reunited with his family

JAKARTA (JP): Controversial soothsayer Permadi Satrio Wiwoho
was reunited with his family yesterday, a day after he was
sentenced to seven months jail for blasphemy.

"I can hardly express my feelings after being separated from
my family for almost six months," Permadi told The Jakarta Post.

Although happy to be home, he said he missed terribly his
fellow inmates at Wirogunan prison, Yogyakarta. "I couldn't help
feeling sorry for them," he said.

Permadi was released on Tuesday night on a legal technicality,
after being sentenced to seven months imprisonment for insulting
Islam and the Prophet Muhammad during a seminar last year.

Permadi, together with his wife Dewi Sriwiyanti and one of his
lawyers, Ramdlon Naning, arrived in Jakarta from Yogyakarta at
about 2 p.m. His two elder daughters Dewi Ayuning Keraton and
Dewi Ciptaning Keraton and his youngest son Bambang Andikaning
Perang, took turns answering phone calls and welcoming guests.
Permadi's third child, Bambang Tarunaning Perang, is taking a
flying course in Australia.

"I did not expect my husband to be released from prison only a
day after being sentenced," Permadi's wife Dewi said. "I'm
delighted my husband's request for a postponement of his
imprisonment was grated by the Yogyakarta High Court," she added.

Among the friends who greeted Permadi on his arrival back in
Jakarta were former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin, human rights
campaigners H.J. Princen and Chris Siner Key Timu, politician Sri
Bintang Pamungkas, legislator Sabam Sirait, and Permadi's fellow
soothsayers, Permadi said.

Permadi, who has close relations with government critics, said
his six months in detention have not discouraged him from
"fighting for the betterment of the country."

"I will keep on making speeches and giving lectures if people
still want me as a source for information," he said, adding that
he is a political and social observer rather than a soothsayer.

He declined to comment on the court's decision. He also
declined to predict what the High Court would decide on the
prosecutors' and his defense lawyers' appeal.

"I will not be disappointed if the High Court or the Supreme
Court decide against me. Neither will I be overjoyed if it
decides in my favor," he said.

The case is currently being examined by the Yogyakarta High
Court, after both the prosecution and the defense appealed
against Monday's decision.

Permadi was released at 10 p.m. on Tuesday on an order of the
High Court.

Ramdlon Naning said the court ordered Permadi's release two
hours early, as the Sleman district court's 90-day detention
order expired at midnight on Tuesday.

"The Yogyakarta High Court agreed to postpone Permadi's
imprisonment after we guaranteed that Permadi would not flee and
would be available until the court hands down its final
decision," he said.

He said Permadi had sought a postponement of his imprisonment
on four occasions. "The first three requests were made during the
trial and the last request was made after the judges read the
verdict (on Monday).

"If the district court's verdict is already final, Permadi
still has to serve another two months in jail," he said.

The Sleman District Court in Yogyakarta sentenced Permadi to
seven months jail on Monday after convicting him of blasphemy for
describing the Prophet Muhammad as a "dictator" during a seminar
at the Gadjah Mada University in April last year. (imn/02)