'Time' hearing postponed over lawyers' delay

JAKARTA (JP): Miscommunication forced judges at the Central Jakarta District Court to adjourn on Tuesday the hearing of a civil lawsuit filed by former president Soeharto against New York-based Time magazine.

Presiding judge Sihol Sitompul adjourned the hearing at 12:20 p.m. in the absence of the lawyers for the former president, who had left the courtroom at 11:40 a.m.

Soeharto's lawyers -- Juan Felix Tampubolon, O.C. Kaligis, Indriyanto Senoadji and Mohammad Assegaff -- arrived at the court at 10 a.m., when the hearing was originally scheduled to begin. However, they apparently lost patience waiting for both Time's lead lawyer, Todung Mulya Lubis, and the presiding judge.

"The lawyers for the magazine are not serious about the court case. We've been waiting for about one and a half hours but they are not here yet," Juan Felix said before leaving the courtroom.

Lelyana Santosa, a junior lawyer on Time's defense team, was the only lawyer for the magazine who arrived at the courtroom for the scheduled start of the hearing.

In the previous hearing, judge Sihol said Tuesday's hearing would begin at 10 a.m., with the court scheduled to hear testimony from witnesses called by the magazine.

Todung and fellow lawyer Kamal Firdaus appeared in the courtroom around 12:00 a.m, about 20 minutes after Soeharto's lawyers had left.

Todung dismissed Juan Felix's assertion they were not taking the proceedings seriously.

"We were not late. I was informed by judge Sihol the hearing would begin at 12:00," he said.

Presiding judge Sihol entered the courtroom shortly after 12:00, accompanied by judges Endang Sri Sumarsih and Sri Murwati.

In his opening remarks, judge Sihol apologized for any confusion. "I don't know who should be blamed for the belated hearing, since I had a meeting outside the courtroom. I apologize to the witnesses."

Todung used the opportunity to propose the court call Soeharto to testify.

"His presence here, after he recovers from his illness, is important for verification purposes," Todung said.

Sihol said he would consider the proposal. "There is no obligation to present (Soeharto) at the hearing, but the chance is still open for his presence as there might be some relevant questions he will have to answer."

He then adjourned the hearing until next week, at which time the court will hear testimony from witnesses.

Sihol later admitted he only informed Time's lawyers the hearing would be delayed until 12:00.

"Time's lawyers appeared at the district court two days ago and I told them I had a meeting on Tuesday morning with judges at the Supreme Court and that I would be late for the hearing," he said.

Soeharto filed a civil lawsuit against the magazine in July last year. He is seeking Rp 189 trillion (US$27 billion) in compensation for a story Time published which stated the former president and his family amassed a $15 billion fortune during his 32-year reign. (asa)