Zarina in ill health, court hearing delayed

JAKARTA (JP): Judges at the West Jakarta District Court postponed the hearing of drug defendant Zarina Mirafsur until next week as the 27-year-old woman claimed not to be fit for the Tuesday's court prosecution.

Zarina, who looked pale during this initial court hearing, asked the judges to reschedule the session.

Presiding judge Basoeki approved Zarina's request for humane reasons.

"The court decided to adjourn the hearing because the defendant claimed not to be able to follow the prosecution due to her ailing condition," Basoeki said.

The judge warned the defendant that if she was unlawfully pretending to be ill, she would be liable for further prosecution.

Prosecutor Hasan Madani produced testimony from Dr. Dewi, the official physician at Tangerang Women's Hospital where Zarina is currently detained, to the effect that: "the defendant is suffering nausea and minor stress but is still able to attend the hearing."

Dr. Dewi examined Zarina's health on Tuesday morning after the defendant insisted that she was sick.

Zarina evidently cried throughout the morning, refusing to obey prosecutors' orders to appear in the courtroom.

"We picked her up at 8 a.m., but she cried and refused our orders because of a queasy stomach," S. Parman, an official at the West Jakarta Prosecutor's office, said prior to the hearing.

The judge said that the court would not tolerate such behavior in the future.

"We adjourned the hearing this time only. Next time, the court will proceed with the hearing regardless of whether the defendant cares to appear in the courtroom," he said.

Scores of television and print journalists eagerly awaited Zarina, dubbed the "ecstasy queen" after proven guilty of holding 30,000 ecstasy pills in 1996.

Journalists and the district court staff awaited Zarina's arrival at the court around 11 a.m, with a tight guard of policemen and security from the West Jakarta Prosecutor's office.

Zarina's legal representation included lawyers Ali Mazi, Petrus Bala Pattyona, Roy Rening and Koresh Tambunan.

Petrus interrupted the hearing to remind the judge of protocol. The judge had neglected to ask whether the defendant was capable of understanding court procedures.

Judge Basoeki at that point allowed Zarina to make her health- related complaints.

Zarina's presence has managed to draw a wide gallery of visitors to the court, including the court staff. The gallery, although interested in her physical appearance, was not entirely supportive of Zarina. Several women in the courtroom booed her when she complained of her inability to follow the hearing.

"She only pretended to be ill," whispered a woman in uniform sitting on the visitors' bench. She was one of scores of young prosecutors attending the hearing for field observations. (asa)