'Tempo' trial delayed

'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