'Tempo' trial to start on April 16

JAKARTA: The Central Jakarta District Court has set April 16 for the trial of the main suspects in the attack on the Tempo newsweekly office, news portal hukumonline reported on Thursday.

The trial will be presided over by Judge Sunaryo, with panel members Ridwan Mansyur and Dwiarso Budi.

The defendants -- David alias A Miauw and Hidayat Lukman alias Teddy Uban -- are charged with violating Articles 335 and 352 of the Criminal Code on violence against others and on minor assault respectively.

The defendants are under house arrest.

About 200 people, reportedly supporters of businessman Tomy Winata, attacked the Tempo office on March 8 in protest against an article inferring that Tomy stood to gain from the Tanah Abang market fire in February. Chief editor Bambang Harymurti and another journalist were assaulted during the protest. -- JP