Workers' trial protested

Workers' trial protested

Some 150 members of the Karya Utama Labor
Federation (FSKU) staged a rally in front of the Tangerang
District Court on Tuesday to protest against the trial of one of
their colleagues Hamdani.

Hamdani, 25, is being tried for the alleged theft of a pair of
sandals belonging to PT Osaga, where he used to work.

"The court must stop the trial because the prosecutor's claims
are inaccurate and fabricated," FSKU coordinator Rostina said.

The protesters claimed they represented the employees of
several factories across Tangerang.

Some 40 police officers were deployed around the courthouse to
prevent the protesters from invading the courtroom where the
prosecutor was reading out his response to the accused's defense
statement.

According to prosecutor Misbah, Hamdani took a pair of sample
sandals from the company's warehouse and wore them for the
purpose of performing ritual ablutions without management's
permission.

As the defendant's act had caused Rp 25,000 in losses to the
company, the prosecutor charged the defendant with violating
Article 362 of the Criminal Code on theft.

Hamdani claimed that the sandals were not a sample pair as
claimed by the prosecution, but rather rejects that were destined
to be dumped.

Presiding Judge Supapto will decided next Tuesday whether or
not to proceed with the trial. --JP