Two Ciledug residents jailed for defamation

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)