SBSI chief released from jail

SBSI chief released from jail

JAKARTA (JP): Union leader Muchtar Pakpahan, who had been
serving a four-year jail term in connection with the Medan riots
last year, was released from a Medan prison yesterday at the
behest of the Supreme Court.

Muchtar, the chairman of the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union
(SBSI), arrived in Jakarta by plane last night and was greeted by
friends and reporters at the Soekarno-Hatta airport.

He said the Supreme Court had ordered his release "after the
court's 60-day detention order expired on Thursday."

His case is still being examined by the Supreme Court.

No further explanation was immediately available last night.

Muchtar was convicted of inciting the labor riots in Medan in
April of last year and sentenced to three year's jail in
November. In January, on appeal by the prosecutors, the North
Sumatra High Court increased the sentence to four years.

Muchtar subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court.

He has denied the accusation, pointing out that he was under
police custody in Semarang when the riot occurred. The
prosecutors said that Muchtar had visited Medan on several
occasions prior to the riot.

The SBSI was blamed for the April riot in Medan, which left
one shopowner dead and dozens of factories damaged. The riot had
its origins in a massive workers' march which was organized by
the union. (swe/emb)