Riot aftermath hits courtrooms

JAKARTA (JP): Last week's massive rioting has brought justice to a halt in courtrooms, with just a few justice seekers appearing in court as scheduled and many suspects' detentions being extended, court officials said yesterday.

The city's five district courts were still quiet yesterday after huge riots jolted the city Wednesday and Thursday.

Central Jakarta District Court chief I.G.K. Sukarata said judges were ready to hear cases but no plaintiffs or defendants had shown up.

"Justice seekers are probably still afraid to go out after the riots," Sukarata said.

His court, located on Jl. Gajah Mada, Central Jakarta, had postponed dozens of trials due to the riots.

He said the detention of several suspects, whose cases were meant to be heard recently, had been extended.

"But thank God, rioters did not attack our courthouse," Sukarata said.

Jl. Gajah Mada and its surrounding areas were the worst hit areas during the riots. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed by angry mobs. The Central Jakarta Prosecutor Office's windows were smashed in the melee.

Several cars belonging to prosecutors were damaged and their car audio systems stolen by rioters who allegedly came from nearby areas, a prosecutor said.

Prosecutors were idle in their office just down the street from the court. Many of them were out of uniform.

It was identical at the West, East and South Jakarta district courts. Only a few cars belonging to judges and court employees were parked in courthouse parking lots.

Beng Seng affair

Meanwhile, the North Jakarta District Court heard a few cases Monday, including a hearing on the 1995 murder of entertainment businessman Nyo Beng Seng.

Upon the order of the Supreme Court, the district court reexamined witnesses to the murder. It heard the testimony of a key witness named Hasan alias Eng San. He denied killing Beng Seng.

The lower court decided in June last year that Eng San was guilty of masterminding the killing and sentenced him to 17 years in jail.

But the Jakarta High Court overturned the verdict and freed Eng San, saying that key witness Kiki Arianto's written testimony was made while he was on the loose. Prosecutors appealed to the Supreme Court.

Kiki, who had been wanted by the police since 1996, was arrested after he testified at North Jakarta District Court on Monday.

Prosecutors initially objected to the arrest but relented after police produced an arrest warrant, Capt. Dharma from city police headquarters told the media.

"We couldn't afford to lose him, especially when he was just a few meters away from us," said Dharma, who led the arrest.

The arrest sparked tension between the city police and city military police, who were ordered to guard Kiki.

"But after we explained that Kiki was a key witness and was allegedly involved in the murder of Nyo Beng Seng, the city military police let him be transferred to us," he said. (jun)