Priest held over defamation case in Kupang

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Priest and legislative candidate Matheos Lenggu has been arrested by police on charges he defamed a fellow member of his political party.

Matheos was picked up by South Jakarta Police officers First. Insp. Syamsuddin and Brig. Herry W. at his house in the morning and the three flew to Jakarta in the afternoon.

Matheos, who is an executive and legislative candidate in the Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party's (PNI Marhaenisme) East Nusa Tenggara chapter, was charged with defaming Lidya Fernandez Jacob, a legislative candidate and an executive of the party's central board.

East Nusa Tenggara Police spokesman First. Insp. C. Waton said Matheos was picked up after he ignored two summonses sent by the South Jakarta Police.

In March, Matheos accused Lidya of being responsible for a recent bomb attack on his house in Kupang. Lidya reported the matter to police.

Lidya and Matheos had earlier fallen out over an internal party matter. -- JP