Yorrys finally indicted at W. Jakarta court
JAKARTA (JP): After failing to appear in court two times, Yorrys Raweyai of Pemuda Pancasila, a powerful youth organization, showed up yesterday under tight security at the West Jakarta District Court to be indicted on gambling charges.
Presiding judge Ismail Sebayang opened the session at 10:40 a.m. by first examining Yorrys and three other defendants identified as Sundoro Tan, Budianto and Hadi Mustapa. The judge then continued the session with the reading of the indictment by prosecutor Noor Said.
Noor Said said that Yorrys and the other three alleged gamblers violated three articles of the Criminal Code on gambling, one of which involves the arranging of a gambling den and use the proceeds for business purposes.
The prosecutor also added that the four defendants violated the 1974 Anti-Gambling Law.
When asked by the judge whether or not he understood the contents of the prosecutor's indictment, Yorrys said he did but that he disagreed.
Ruhut Sitompul and Tommy Sihotang, the two lawyers hired by the four defendants, told the judge that they objected the prosecutor's indictment. Judge Ismail adjourned the court until Oct. 13 to give the lawyers time to prepare their objection statement.
Yorrys left the court room guarded by dozens of Mobile Brigade officers, with his wife and hundreds of his supporters accompanying him.
He smiled to newsmen and told The Jakarta Post that he was doing alright.
"I am fine, it's just a part of life," he said.
Yorrys did not show up in court last week due to his ailing health. He was treated at a specialist's clinic in Singapore.
The medical statement, signed by Dr. J.L. Da Costa, the co- owner of the clinic Chew and Da Costa Ltd. on Orchard Road, Singapore, asked the court to give Yorrys two weeks rest.
Judge Ismail only gave Yorrys a week, however, and warned that the court would take action if Yorrys failed to appear at the next scheduled session.
According to the Criminal Procedure Code, an alleged offender may be arrested if he or she fails to appear in court two times consecutively.
Yorrys, the day-to-day chairman of the Golkar-affiliated Pemuda Pancasila, is being tried along with six other defendants on charges of organizing and playing rummy and macok at a store house in West Jakarta in July.
Charges
Yorrys was arrested along with six other defendants on July 29, at a gambling den at Jl. Daan Mogot 125, West Jakarta, but 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 then 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, are being tried in another trial.
The arrest of Yorrys has prompted Yapto Suryosumarno, the chairman 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).
A person found illegally operating a gambling place faces a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of Rp 25 million.(mas)