Rudy's father wants 'light' punishment for Adiguna
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Prosecutors delayed on Tuesday reading their sentencing demand for businessman Adiguna Sutowo in the murder of waiter Johannes "Rudy" Berchmans Haerudy Natong at the Hilton Hotel in Jakarta on Jan. 1, while reports emerged that the victim's family had appealed for leniency for the defendant.
Lead prosecutor Andi Herman told the court his team had not completed the sentencing demand, saying the nine days they were given to prepare the demand was not enough time to gather together all of the facts and testimony from the three-month trial.
"It is simply a matter of not enough time. Considering that many facts came up during the hearings, we need more time to go through all the testimony to back our sentencing demand," Andi said while asking the judges to adjourn the session until next Tuesday.
The judges granted the prosecution's request.
Just before presiding judge Lilik Mulyadi adjourned the session, Adiguna's defense lawyers asked the judges to allow them to present a new fact to the court that they said was vital to the trial.
"We have just received a faxed letter from the victim's family that could be used as a consideration for prosecutors in formulating their sentencing demand. We ask your honor to give us time to read the letter," said a member of Adiguna's defense team, Doni Antares Irawan.
Judge Lilik denied the request and suggested the letter be submitted as part of the defense plea that will follow the reading of the sentencing demand. He then asked the defense to provide copies of the letter to the court and the prosecution.
Legal representatives of Rudy's family, Hendrik Jahaman and Gustav Chaman, said they had not been told about the letter by Rudy's family and objected to it being submitted to the court.
A copy of the letter was shown to The Jakarta Post by a court clerk.
The letter, apparently written by Rudy's father, Alfons Natong, and dated May 1, 2005, was addressed to the deputy attorney general for general crimes. In it, the writer asks for leniency for Adiguna.
"First, Rudy's death was God's will. Second, Sutowo's family, represented by businessman Ponco Sutowo, has apologized and expressed their condolences over Rudy's death. Third, we ask the prosecution to seek the lightest sentence possible. Fourth, Rudy's family would feel the sadness of Adiguna's family if he was given a long sentence," the letter said.
If convicted, Adiguna could face 15 years in prison for murder and a life sentence for the illegal possession of a firearm.
Judge Lilik did not comment on the letter or its contents, or its possible effects on the trial.
Prosecutor Andi told the Post he would only consider the facts that were presented in previous sessions in drawing up his sentencing demand.
"We will not consider facts that develop outside of the courtroom," he said. (006)