Zarina surrounded by number one lawyers

Zarina surrounded by number one lawyers

JAKARTA (JP): The trial of Zarina Mirafsur, charged with
possessing and trafficking Ecstasy pills, is attracting
increasing attention given the high profile of three of her seven
lawyers. Today her second hearing is scheduled in West Jakarta
District Court.

* Amir Syamsuddin, 55, was the first lawyer appointed to
represent Zarina. Born in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, he has
been a lawyer for 15 years.

At 42, he graduated from the extension program of the Faculty
of Law of University of Indonesia. He now runs a law firm with 15
partners, including his second son Didi Irawadi Syamsuddin, on
Jl. HR Rasuna Said, Kuningan, South Jakarta.

He said he took Zarina's case because of a "moral
commitment". When he meet Zarina after her flight to America,
Zarina had asked him what she would have to face if she returned
to Indonesia.

"As I was the one who told her everything and advised her to
return home, I would feel like I double crossed my own commitment
if I left her now," he said.

Amir said another reason was his closeness to Zarina's father.

"I have been representing Mirafsur (Zarina's father) for about
eight years.. he has become a close friend and is like family to
me. So when his daughter had this problem, I was the first person
he called," Amir said. His son Didi is also a good friend of
Zarina, Amir added.

About payment, Amir only said it was Zarina's parents who were
paying, as Zarina was still dependent on them.

Unlike with other clients, payment would be discussed later,
he said.

"But they have paid all travel and accommodation expenses."

On fees in general, he said the lowest handling fee received
by his office was about Rp 50 million.

"Rp 100 million is "biasa" (normal, nothing)."

Amir considered himself a late starter, beginning his career
at 40 in 1983, after a two-year apprenticeship at O.C. Kaligis
law firm.

He said some not widely publicized cases such as those of
Harnoko Dewantono alias Oki, or Subekti Ismaun of Bapindo, had
impressed him most. He said he gained satisfaction from having
been able to help two people who could not pay him at the
beginning of his career.

"These were the cases of Zakri, a construction worker charged
with killing his brother, and the case of a security guard
charged for killing a hoodlum," he said.

* Otto Cornelis Kaligis was born in Ujungpandang, South
Sulawesi, June 19, 1942. In a profile of 45 Indonesian lawyers,
Kaligis was said to have done most of his studying alone to
become a lawyer. His first office was in Glodok, downtown, before
he went to study philosophy in Aachen, Germany. In 1977 he set up
O.C. Kaligis & Associates, his current office.

Kaligis defended Philipus Kia Lejab and his family, convicted
last year for their involvement in the murder of a woman and
three children.

He is now defending a Garuda pilot arrested last September in
the Netherlands for possession of Ecstasy pills.

Kaligis is also flying back and forth to Aceh in northern tip
of Sumatra, defending a man held responsible for the death of 338
passengers on board the Gurita ferry which sank on Jan. 19.

He said Zarina asked him to be her lawyer after several
consultations.

Kaligis asked her first to consult her father, who had earlier
appointed Amir Syamsuddin, and said he had hesitated to take the
case because of the code of ethics and his familiarity with Amir,
his former apprentice.

Kaligis denied reports saying he was the legal coordinator,
saying they were all acting as individuals. Zarina became his
client in December.

His private interest in the case, he said, was the wide range
of sentencing in drug cases. He said Zarina's case was very
interesting as it was clear that sound jurisprudence in these
cases had yet to be developed.

He said sentences have been handed down even in cases of
possessing very few pills. Kaligis said experts' opinions should
be sought on whether the possession of, for instance, less than
30 grams of Ecstasy, was harmful to one's health.

Kaligis said he didn't take Zarina's case for its celebrity
value -- actress Ida Iasha, Admiral (ret.) Sudomo and Rahmawati
Soekarnoputri are former clients.

Regarding fees Kaligis only said: "It can be very expensive or
free of charge."

An example? "When I'm lazy about taking a divorce case I could
charge Rp 100 million; but if I think this woman must really be
helped I would only charge court fees."

Henry Yosodiningrat, 43, also said Zarina requested his
services. He said he didn't know Zarina before, and didn't quite
know why Zarina had asked him.

But he said after 19 years as a lawyer he deserved to be
trusted. Amir Syamsuddin, with whom Henry is defending Oki,
conveyed Zarina's request.

He said lawyers cannot refuse requests to defend anybody. Only
30 percent of his clients paid, he said.

His office can charge around US$ 10,000, excluding success
fees, for a company.

Henry's two sisters and two brothers have law degrees. He got
his bachelors degree in law in 1978. He wanted to be a lawyer
because he thought it was a noble job. Now he runs his office
with one brother and two sisters at the Kartika Chandra building.

He said a case in Medan in 1995 was one which still makes him
upset. He defended one lecturer and three students charged with
murdering a female student at Universitas Nomensen. The case took
five months and he was sure the four men were scapegoats, but he
failed to prove them innocent. (anr/04/13)