Prosecutor accused of discrimination

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)