TV actress wins lawsuit against Unilever
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Actress Bella Saphira won her case against giant Dutch company PT Unilever on Monday after the South Jakarta District Court declared the firm had violated its contract with her.
However, the panel of judges, presided over by Judge Lalu Mariyun, rejected Bella's demand that PT Unilever and advertising bureau JWT Adforce pay a total of Rp 1.12 billion (US$100,200) in damages for material and nonmaterial losses, because Bella had failed to give details of the demand.
PT Unilever and JWT Adforce were ordered to pay Rp 100 million for material losses.
"As a large and reputable company, the accused (PT Unilever) failed to fulfill the principle of fairness and to act professionally by tolerating the installment of a billboard featuring the plaintiff, even though their contract had expired," Lalu Mariyun told the court.
Bella lodged her lawsuit in October last year after she saw a billboard with her picture on it in Bandung on April 17 last year. Her one-year contract with the company expired on Feb. 1, 2001.
PT Unilever will appeal to a higher court, said lawyer Hardjon Sinaga during the hearing, which was packed with reporters and onlookers.
The firm believed it did no wrong because Article 2 of the contract stated that Bella would not ask for compensation should the company continue displaying the billboard featuring her after the contract expired, because it would take time for the company to withdraw it.
Bella and her team of lawyers could not hide their exhilaration.
"People were pessimistic when I filed the lawsuit, but justice has been served. I accept the verdict. I hope giant companies in future will be aware of their rights and obligations," said Bella.
Bella, who was clad in a white shirt and black skirt, also drew attention from district court officials and visitors alike, who all clamored to get a glimpse of the young woman, whose star appeal as a sinetron (TV soap opera) actress has in recent months has faded.
Lalu pointed his fingers several times at Bella, who was on the first floor, to draw her attention.
As she was busy being interviewed, the judge shouted to a reporter next to Bella and told him to ask Bella to wave at him.
Bella then waved her both hands at Lalu, who then waved back.
Judge Lalu is also the presiding judge handling Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra's murder trial, as well as the graft trial of Rahardi Ramelan, former chief of the State Logistics Agency.
He was also the judge who acquitted Tommy from graft charges in 2000 -- the verdict was later overturned by Supreme Court Justice M. Syafiuddin Kartasasmita and two of his colleagues.
Monday's verdict was a victory for local celebrities. It is rare for a celebrity to win a lawsuit against a company for a dispute over a contract.
Several years ago, actress Jihan Fahira, a model for Nivea, sued the producer, German giant PT Baiersdorf Indonesia, in a similar case. However, the settlement details were not disclosed.