Photographer detained for obscenity

JAKARTA: A photographer and two of his assistants were detained by the police for illegally filming three models with a handheld video camera through a two-way mirror in the bathroom of the photographer's studio.

The city's top detective, Snr. Comr. Andi Chaerudin, said on Monday that the three suspects -- Budi Han, owner of a photo studio in Tebet, South Jakarta, and his assistant Benny Ginting and Kodim -- had been detained since Friday.

The suspects allegedly filmed the models in 1997.

The three were charged under Article 282 (2) of the Criminal Code on obscenity, which carries a maximum punishment of nine months in jail.

The three were detained after the models -- Rachel Maryam, Sarah Azhari and Femmy Permatasari -- filed a complaint with the police after discovering themselves on VCDs being illegally sold. --JP