Riot aftermath hits courtrooms

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)