Prosecutor loses her cool in court

JAKARTA (JP): A female prosecutor broke into tears following a heated quarrel with lawyers at the West Jakarta District Court on Monday.

Prosecutor Rachmatiah cried when some of the 11 lawyers from the Legal Aid Post (Posbakum) at the district court barked at her shortly after Judge Bay Mastur closed the trial of a violent theft case against the lawyers' client.

Rachmatiah, who was the only prosecutor in the case, cried again when she explained the case to reporters a few minutes later.

She said the Posbakum lawyers had no right to defend Sugiantoro al Mashar, since none of them appeared in the first two sessions of the case which had to be adjourned due to the absence of both defendant and lawyers.

"They showed the letter of authority from the defendant just today," Rachmatiah told reporters with tears in her eyes.

Without the presence of the lawyers, the court can usually end the trial and sentence the defendant in the second or third session, she said.

Rachmatiah also condemned the other Posbakum lawyers who yelled and pointed their fingers to her to show their anger.

"They are not part of the defendant's legal team... but why did they also blame me?" she said.

Several court staff members later came by and comforted her.

The defendant was accompanied by only three of the lawyers.

One of the lawyers, Rachmat Nainggolan, said that Rachmatiah claimed they were unable to defend their client on the grounds that they did not notify the prosecutor in advance.

"I never found such a law that stipulates a lawyer must inform a prosecutor on the matter before the trial is held," Rachmat said.

Her accusation, he said, "insulted the legal profession". (asa)