Soeharto vs 'Time' cannot be tried here, police say
Soeharto vs 'Time' cannot be tried here, police say
JAKARTA (JP): National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Togar M.
Sianipar said on Wednesday that Indonesian courts lack authority
and legal grounds to try former president Soeharto's lawsuit
against U.S.-based Time magazine here.
He said Indonesian law could not be applied to try Soeharto's
suit against the magazine and its employees.
"The overseas location of the Time office (Hong Kong), which
published the controversial edition, has prevented the
implementation of Indonesian law here.
"Indonesian law will only try a lawsuit on a crime which
occurs in Indonesia," said Togar at the National Police
Headquarters.
He said foreign citizenship of the suspect involved also
nullified the possibility of trying the case here.
"The suspect, Donald Morrison, who is the magazine's chief
editor, is a foreigner. In reference to Article 4 of the
Indonesian Criminal Code, legally, this case cannot be tried
here," he said.
Togar said the National Police were "doing their best" to get
the case tried in Hong Kong.
"If it was tried here, the suspect would have already been
slapped with Article 310 of the Indonesian Criminal Code for
allegedly slandering the victim's good name. But such is not the
case," Togar said.
He said witnesses so far questioned included Time reporters
Jason Tedjasukmana and Zamira Lubis.
"Expert witnesses questioned included Loebby Loqman, a
University of Indonesia law professor," he said.
Meanwhile, police sources said on Sept. 27 that a letter on
the case was sent to National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi from
a high-ranking police officer. It stated, among other things, the
allegedly libelous statements made against Soeharto in the
controversial May 24 edition of the magazine this year.
"The letter said in conclusion any move made on the case would
be politically motivated," the sources said.
The magazine reported in its May 24 edition that Soeharto and
his children had amassed a US$15 billion fortune during his 30-
year rule.
Apart from the police's ongoing investigation into the
criminal aspects of the magazine's publication, the Central
Jakarta District Court has been trying a $27 billion civil
lawsuit against the magazine, which was filed by Soeharto last
July.
The court adjourned the trial earlier this month until Oct. 14
after all seven defendants failed to appear at the trial's
opening session on Sept. 9.
The investigation into Soeharto's wealth began in June last
year, and was later reinforced by a decree from the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) issued during its Special Session
last November. (ylt)`