Two Ciledug residents jailed for defamation

TANGERANG (JP): The Tangerang District Court sentenced two Ciledug residents yesterday to one year each in jail, for defaming President Soeharto through the distribution of libelous pamphlets.

The verdict was not as harsh as requested by prosecutor Samiun Yahya, who asked the court to sentence each of the defendants to two years in jail.

Presiding judge JH Situmorang said the court found the two men -- Syarifudin bin Murdali, 23, and Abdullah bin Sarmili, 22, both from Sudimara Timur village -- guilty of violating Article 137 of the Criminal Code on distributing illegal pamphlets defaming the President and Vice President.

Article 137 of the Criminal Code carries a maximum penalty of one year and four months in prison or a fine of Rp 300 (4 US cents).

"Both Syarifudin and Abdullah rode a motorcycle along Jl. Lembang in Tajur village, Ciledug, on July 25, 1996 giving out the leaflets," Situmorang said.

Prosecutor Samiun said in an earlier trial session that the defendants had admitted to being aware of the contents of the leaflets, and that they hoped people would read them.

He told the court that the pamphlets called for, among other things, members of the first family to disclose their assets and business interests, and demanded the government stamp out corruption and bribery.

One of the country's largest riots in 30 years occurred in Central Jakarta two days after the defendants had handed out their leaflets. Dozens of buildings and cars were burned in the riot following a takeover of Indonesian Democratic Party headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro.

The judge gave the prosecutor and the two defendants, through their lawyer Edwin Hasyim, two weeks to decide whether to accept or appeal the verdict.

Edwin said after the trial that the council of judges had not taken his defense statement into consideration.

"The article used to charge the defendants is the product of the Dutch colonialism, even though we have been independent for a long time," he said.

The defendants cried when they heard the verdict. (41/hhr)