Yorrys finally indicted at W. Jakarta court
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)