'UI must carry out court's decision'

'UI must carry out court's decision'

JAKARTA (JP): The head of the Jakarta Administrative Court has issued an official letter instructing the rector of the University of Indonesia to withdraw the suspension of a medical school student.

Court head Benjamin Mangkoedilaga announced on Tuesday that the court had decided to withdraw the suspension of Rifardi Rifiar, but the rector has not carried out the court's order.

Letter of the Minister for Administrative Reform number B.471/I/1991, issued on May 29, 1991 states that government officials and agencies must carry out any decision of the court, Benjamin reminded.

The medical school dean suspended Rifardi for three months, starting on Nov. 2, for beating-up other students on campus for damaging his car.

The beating, which led to one student being hospitalized for 11 days with serious injuries, is against campus regulations, the dean said.

The rector of the University of Indonesia issued a decision on Dec. 1 to strengthen his subordinate's action.

The student then filed a lawsuit against the dean and rector with the Jakarta State Administrative Court.

The university's lawyer, Retno Murniati, told the court on Monday that her clients could not carry out the court's rule since the suspension began on Dec. 7, while the court began trying the case on Dec. 14.

Withdrawing the suspension will damage the reputation of the school of medicine at the University of Indonesia, Retno argued.

Rifardi denied beating-up other students. "I only pushed back one of the students, named Barlian Sitompul," he said, adding that the seven other students had damaged his car more than once.

According to Rifardi, the dean issued a letter of suspension after receiving a complaint from Barlian's father, Barita Sitompul, who is a senior lecturer at the school of medicine.

Judge Mustahdi will summon the rector on Dec. 26. (29)