Police snap to it with cases against magazines
Police snap to it with cases against magazines
JAKARTA (JP): Unlike work on other pressing cases, such as
corruption, the National Police on Wednesday announced they had
completed dossiers on Matra and Popular magazines in just a
matter of weeks.
The magazines have had indecency charges leveled against them.
Col. Makbul Padmanagara of the General Crime Unit told
reporters that the dossiers, in which the two magazines' chief
editors Nano Riantiarno and Mujimanto are named as suspects, were
handed over to the Central Jakarta Prosecutor's Office on Monday.
According to him, dossiers on Pop tabloid, Liberty magazine
and Objektif tabloid will follow soon.
As with the first two magazines, the other three publications
will be charged with indecency, with their chief editors named as
suspects.
"The other dossiers will be completed soon," Makbul said.
The editors are charged under Article 282 of the Criminal Code
pertaining to indecency. The article carries a maximum penalty of
18 months imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp 3,000 (less than 40
U.S. cents).
The fast work of the police in completing the dossiers raised
eyebrows of members of the public, who are waiting impatiently
for the police to investigate other important cases.
Detectives at the National Police Headquarters, also under
public pressure to put a halt to the publication of pornographic
material, began the probe into the five magazines and tabloids
late last month.
After questioning several witnesses a few times, including
models, photographers, editors and media experts, the police on
July 6 formally charged editors of the five magazines and
tabloids with indecency.
Among artists and top photo models who posed for the five
publications and were questioned by the police are Sophia Latjuba
and Inneke Koesherawati.
Most of those questioned admitted the pictures run by the
media could be considered as indecent and in violation of ethics.
Some of them admitted to being naked during photo sessions, but
said their photos were mostly about artistic expression.
As of Wednesday, the police were still waiting for the arrival
of television star Sarah Azhari for questioning in relation to
the cases.
Her lawyer, Dwi Ria Latifa, said Sarah, who posed for the June
edition of Matra, was in Europe and would soon leave France for
Jakarta.
"She'll contact me to confirm her arrival," the lawyer said.
(emf/bsr)