Unilever denies violating contract

Muninggar Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

JAKARTA: PT Unilever admitted on Thursday that a billboard featuring artist Bella Saphira was still on display after a contract agreement with the celebrity was no longer valid, but the company claimed that the continued display was not against the contract.

"The contract stated that the plaintiff would not sue PT Unilever if it continued to display the advertisement featuring her as long as the installation had been carried out before the contract period had finished," Harjon Sinaga, one of the company's lawyers, told the South Jakarta District Court.

Sinaga said the plaintiff had signed the agreement under the guidance of her lawyers from Sebayang, Thomas and Partners law firm on Feb. 1, 2000. The contract was valid for one year.

Bella sued the giant Dutch company last month after it allegedly broke the terms of the agreement by installing a billboard on Jl. Suniaraja, Bandung, which was not taken down until April 17 this year.

She demanded the company pay Rp 1.1 billion in compensation.

According to Sinaga, PT Unilever ordered advertising agency PT Sanjayatama Adhiperdana on Oct. 14, 2000 to install the Lux toilet soap billboard on Jl. Suniaraja.

He denied Bella's claims that since February this year her lawyers had warned the company six times to take down the billboard. Sinaga said that the only warrant received by the company was signed on Sept. 12 by Faisal and Panggabean law firm.

The company had asked the plaintiff several times to discuss the matter, but Bella and her lawyers had refused.

"The lawsuit is like blackmail, designed to reap financial benefit from the accused," he asserted.

The court will resume next week.