Pollycarpus' trial delayed

Pollycarpus' trial delayed

JAKARTA: Prosecutors in Munir murder trial failed on Monday to
present their sentencing recommendation for defendant Pollycarpus
Budihari Priyanto, despite the 10-day period given to them to
prepare the recommendation.

Presiding judge Cicut Sutiarso opened the hearing at 1:30 p.m.
only to adjourn it until Thursday, saying the court had been
waiting for the prosecutors since 9 a.m. but they had not turned
up.

"We can't wait any longer given that it would take a long time
for the prosecutors to read out their sentencing request.
Therefore, the court has agreed to adjourn the trial until
Thursday," Cicut said.

When called by phone, one of the prosecutors, Domu P. Sihite,
refused to explain to the press why his team had failed to turn
up in court.

A source close to the prosecution service said, however, that
prosecutors remained split over whether to focus on the
premeditated murder or counterfeiting of official document
charges. -- JP