Pilot trial soon

JAKARTA (JP): The trial of a Garuda Indonesia pilot on Ecstasy trafficking charges is slated to begin in Amsterdam, Holland, on Thursday, Antara reported yesterday.

O.C. Kaligis, a senior Indonesian lawyer, is already in Amsterdam to represent M. Said, the pilot who was arrested in September after police found 8,000 Ecstasy pills on him.

Said appointed Kaligis and two other Indonesian lawyers, Purwaning Januar and Rita Suwandi, to accompany the team of Dutch lawyers, led by Jacqueline Kuijper, who Garuda Indonesia hired.

Kaligis said he believed his client was framed in a bid to embarrass Indonesia. He pointed out the barrage of articles in the Dutch press attempting to link Said with senior Indonesian government officials. (emb)