Yorrys claims illness keeps him out of court
Yorrys claims illness keeps him out of court
JAKARTA (JP): Yorrys Raweyai of Pemuda Pancasila, a powerful
youth organization, once again failed to show up at the West
Jakarta District Court where he is being tried on gambling
charges, claiming ill health.
"The court has received a letter from a Singaporean doctor
saying that Yorrys is ill and needs rest," presiding judge Ismail
Sebayang told reporters after the court session.
The medical statement, which was signed by Dr. J.L. Da Costa,
the co-owner of the specialist clinic Chew and Da Costa Ltd. on
Orchard Road, Singapore, asked the court to give Yorrys two weeks
rest.
Judge Ismail overruled the doctor's request, however, and
asked that Yorrys appear in person in his next court session
scheduled on Oct. 10.
The defendant, along with six others, was supposed to appear
in court last Monday also, but his defense lawyers said that
Yorry's did not receive the court subpoena.
Judge Sebayang warned that the court will take action if
Yorrys fails to appear in the next scheduled session.
According to the Criminal Procedure Code, an alleged offender
can be arrested if he or she fails to appear in court two times
consecutively.
In a related development, City Police Chief Maj. Gen.
Mochammad Hindarto yesterday promised to assign personnel to keep
track of Yorrys in order to bring him to court on future trial
dates.
No more excuses
"The District Court told us that no more excuses will be
accepted after today's trial," Hindarto told reporters after
installing the new chief of the South Jakarta Police precinct
here yesterday.
Hindarto, however, gave no further information as to whether
the suspect, who was released on bail, is still in the city.
Yorrys Raweyai, the day-to-day chairman of Pemuda Pancasila, a
powerful, shadowy youth organization affiliated to the ruling
Golkar group, has been tried along with six other defendants on
charges of organizing and playing rummy and macok at a store
house in West Jakarta in July.
Yorrys was arrested along with six other defendants on July
20, at a gambling den at Jl. Daan Mogot 125, West Jakarta, but he
was released on bail shortly after his arrest.
During the raid, police also confiscated Rp 1,572,000
(US$724.4) in cash, cards and other gambling paraphernalia.
The defendants were tried in two separate trials.
Yorrys was tried along with three other alleged gamblers,
Sundoro Tan, Budianto and Hadi Mustapa.
Three other persons accused of organizing the games, Abidin,
Bock Tjin Lim and Ng A Tjan, were tried in another trial.
The arrest of Yorrys prompted Yapto Suryosumarno, the number-
one person of Pemuda Pancasila, to allege that it was politically
motivated, a charge denied by Jakarta Military Commander Maj.
Gen. Hendropriyono.
According to the law, a gambler caught red handed faces a
maximum imprisonment of four years or a maximum fine of Rp 10
million (US$4,600).
While a person found illegally operating a gambling place
faces a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of Rp 25
million.
The trial was adjourned until next week.(03/bsr)