Team of lawyers awaits Oki's written request

JAKARTA (JP): A formal statement appointing the team of lawyers to defend the Los Angeles triple murder suspect, Harnoko Dewantono, popularly known as Oki, will be made public today, lawyer Amir Syamsuddin said.

"Oki has agreed to the list of lawyers I suggested to him and so have the agreed upon lawyers. However, we are waiting for an official request from Oki," Amir told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The team of lawyers is expected to comprise of Tommy Sihotang, Henry Yosodinigrat and Nurhasyim Ilyas.

Oki's first hearing on the murder case was on June 17 at the Central Jakarta district court. It lasted less than five minutes after which Oki dismissed his lawyers from Ruhut Sitompoel, Tommy Sihotang and Associates law firm, and told the court that his new lawyer, Amir Syamsuddin, was ill. The hearing was adjourned until Thursday.

According to Amir, Oki had no intention to dismiss Tommy.

Following this rejection, Amir met Oki to discuss the latter's request to Amir to be his lawyer.

"Perhaps he realized that he is facing a serious trial and wanted to have a strong team to defend him," Amir added.

"I have reasons for refusing to be his lawyer," Amir asserted.

Family members and legal consultants of the woman victim, Gina Sutan Aswar, however, suspected that Oki is intentionally prolonging his trial.

"It is very possible that he is purposefully trying to delay the trial," said Syaiful Ihsan Sutan Aswar, brother of the victim, told a press conference on Saturday.

Gina, 30, is one of three victims allegedly murdered in 1992. The two other alleged victims are Oki's younger brother, Eri Tri Harto Darmawan, 26, and his Indian business partner, Suresh Mirchandani, 45.

"This attempt to delay procedures is a stupid act," Gina's family consultant A. Boer said. He added that the ethics of both the suspect and the judiciary apparatus can be questioned because of the compliance with the suspect's plea for a two-week interim.

"The judges should have pleaded for only a week adjournment," Boer added.

Family members as well as consultants added that if Oki does not find a lawyer by the 27th, they will propose a lawyer appointed by the state to defend him. (14)