Singapore Airlines sued for defamation

JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court heard on Thursday a lawsuit filed by a female passenger against Singapore Airlines for defamation and causing humiliation.

The plaintiff, Yulmatri Rais, is demanding the airline's Jakarta office pay Rp 100 million for material losses and Rp 10 billion for nonmaterial losses.

Represented by lawyer John Pieter Nazar, Yulmatri said she was questioned on Jan. 10 this year by Singaporean police in Singapore after she was accused of stealing money from another passenger based on a report from the airline crew.

She said the crew's report to the police was made after they were informed by the other passenger that she had stolen some money on a flight from Los Angeles to Jakarta.

During the journey Yulmatri was accompanied by her husband, Rainal Rais, an executive at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and her mother Ratinis.

The plaintiff was questioned by the police without being accompanied by lawyers when the plane landed on transit in Singapore. After undergoing 75 minutes of questioning, the accusation was found to be groundless.

The plaintiff reiterated that the questioning caused her discomfort and was defamatory and slanderous. The plaintiff's husband suffered heavy stress as a result and needed hospital treatment after the questioning, she said in the indictment.

She said the defendant had apologized and offered a free ticket to Singapore.

The plaintiff sent a warning letter to the airlines requesting that compensation be paid, but the request was ignored.

The defendant's lawyer, Rambun Tjajo, however, said the plaintiff should sue the Singaporean police instead of Singapore Airlines.

"We have done everything, according to the procedure as an airline company," Rambun said.

Presiding judge M. Ritonga adjourned the trial until June 24 to hear the defendant's response. (jun)