Request that media be balanced

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Press Council ruled on Monday that 11 media companies must run the statement of a suspect to balance media coverage on the alleged abduction of businessman Setiadji Munawar.

The 11 media, SCTV, Tempo magazine, Koran Tempo, Suara Karya, Warta Kota, Kompas, Sinar Harapan, Media Indonesia, Pos Kota, Republika and The Jakarta Post dailies were given a deadline of one week from the issuance of the ruling.

Although the council said that all of the media had not intended to be one-sided, relying as they did on police statements, the council still asked the media to fulfill Lisa Lukitawati's right to respond in order to restore her image.

Setiadjie reported to the police early in April that he had been kidnapped and tortured, adding that he had been beaten around the head and had holes drilled through the palm of his hands.

The police later arrested managing partner of law firm Arsyad & Associates, Trijono Arsyad, and his wife Lisa as suspects.

The other suspects are director of PT Marketlinkindo Persada Dewi Retno Ningsih, president director of PT Buana Samudra Jaya Trisna Wijaya, and former TNI officer Anas Azis.

The case, however, became controversial as several new facts came to light that were contrary to Setiadjie's initial report, and there was an indication that the police may have detained innocent people.

Lisa's lawyer Hilman K. Nurakhman told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that he had evidence proving that all of the suspects had never abducted, let alone, tortured Setiadjie.

He added that there were no conclusive evidence, including the drill, the chisel as well as finger prints on any equipment, to show that the torture actually occurred.

"The fact that prosecutors keep returning the case file to the police shows that the police have inadequate evidence," he said.