Policeman sued for alleged harassment

JAKARTA (JP): A female supporter of Megawati Soekarnoputri has claimed that a former chief of the Jakarta Police Detectives sexually harassed her after she was arrested last July.

The woman, Sandra Fertasari Putri, filed a suit for damages yesterday in the South Jakarta District Court against Col. Paimin A.B.

The suit says that while Sandra was being detained in a cell at Pondok Bambu prison, Paimin used words and body language that humiliated her and constituted sexual harassment.

The suit says Paimin "urged her to have sexual intercourse rather than choose the PDI (the Indonesian Democratic Party)".

Sandra is seeking Rp 500 million (US$203,998) in damages.

She recently served a four month prison sentence after she was found guilty of ignoring a police order to disperse when supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted leader of the PDI, occupied the party's headquarters on July 27 last year.

She and 123 others were arrested by security officers after hundreds of supporters of the government-recognized PDI chairman Soerjadi took control of the headquarters. The takeover sparked a bloody riot.

According to Sandra's suit, Paimin accompanied members of the Commission on Human Rights who visited Sandra and other Megawati loyalists on Aug. 5.

The suit says that after the commission finished talking with Sandra, the police were still in Sandra's cell, which she shared with three other Megawati supporters.

Paimin then allegedly used sexually suggestive language and gestures.

"As one of the state apparatus, the police should not only carry out their assignments, but should also act as leaders who should show a good example to people," the suit said.

Sandra and the 115 other supporters were sentenced to four months and three days in jail in November. The sentence matched the defendants' time in prison, so they were freed on the day of the verdict.

Sandra was enraged at the verdict, and accused the court of staging a farce. (05)