Prosecutor accused of discrimination

JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers of a man detained for defaming the President said yesterday their client received discriminatory treatment by the South Jakarta Prosecutor.

Andi Syahputra's requests for city arrest have been rejected. He is at the Cipinang prison awaiting trial. Meanwhile another detainee charged with a similar offense was granted this status, lawyers of the Jakarta Legal Aid office said yesterday.

"The end of our client's detention period fell on Jan. 14; our requests for city arrest have not been responded to," lawyer Irianto Subiakto said.

Andi was arrested for involvement in publishing an unlicensed magazine, Suara Independen, with an owner of a printing house, Jazrul Zen. They were both detained at the South Jakarta police precinct for two months.

However Jazrul was granted city arrest by the Prosecutor on Dec. 26 when the case was transferred from the police, Irianto said. The lawyers asked Prosecutor Soedhono Wahyudi again to grant their request.

Soedhono refused yesterday to comment on the allegations. (anr)