'Tempo' trial delayed

JAKARTA: The hearing of a defamation suit filed by businessman Tomy Winata against Tempo magazine at the Central Jakarta District Court was delayed on Monday when two judges failed to appear.

Presiding judge Suripto said judge Ridwan Mansyur was in Makassar, South Sulawesi, attending a human rights workshop, and judge Kusriyanto was in Denpasar.

Tempo chief editor Bambang Harymurti and journalists Ahmad Taufik and Teuku Iskandar Ali are being sued for defamation by Winata over an article published by the weekly that insinuated the businessman was connected to the Feb. 19, 2003, fire that destroyed much of the Tanah Abang textile market.

The court was scheduled to hear testimony on Monday from a communications expert from the University of Indonesia, Ibnu Hamad.

Suripto has also yet to decide whether the court will subpoena Central Jakarta Mayor Hosea Petra Lumbun to testify.

The trial was adjourned until next Monday. -- JP