Prosecutor loses her cool in court

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)