Stiffest jail term sought in Marsinah murder trial

JAKARTA (JP): Government prosecutors yesterday demanded a 15- year jail term for a business executive being tried in connection with last year's murder of labor activist Marsinah.

The jail term sought for 37-year-old Karyadi Wongso is the stiffest sought so far for any of the nine defendants who have been or are being tried for Marsinah's murder.

Chief prosecutor Suwarto Darmandi told the Surabaya District Court that Karyadi, head of production at PT Citra Putra Surya, where Marsinah worked, took part in the plan to abduct and murder the labor activist in May last year.

Suwarto pointed out that, based on testimonies presented in court, the defendant took part in the May 5 and 7 meetings at the company's office in Sidoarjo near Surabaya.

Yesterday's trial was adjourned until June 6, when the defendant and his lawyers will present their closing arguments.

Like the other eight defendants, Karyadi has insisted he is innocent and has said that he is simply the victim of an official cover-up to protect the real murderers.

Four of the eight defendants have been convicted for their roles in murder. One woman received a six-month prison term, and three men received 12 years imprisonment each. All are appealing their sentences.

Five others, including Karyadi, are still on trial, as is the company's owner, Judi Susanto, whom the prosecutors have accused of masterminding the murder.

Marsinah's badly mutilated body was found in an abandoned shack in Nganjuk, a small town in East Java on May 9, only a few days after she had led a workers' strike at the company, which produces wristwatches.

The prosecutors said that her killing had to do with her activity in leading the workers' protests.

Two witnesses, both servants of Judi, testified in court that they saw Karyadi on the night Marsinah was brought over to the house. According to their testimonies, she was kept in a room, bound and gagged and left unfed for three days. (prs)