Court postpones 'Tempo' verdict

JAKARTA: The Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday adjourned for the second time its verdict in a legal battle between Tempo magazine and agribusiness firm PT Asian Agri.

The new date for the verdict has been set for September 9.

Presiding judge Panusunan Harahap said the panel of judges hearing the case required more time to regroup, following a minor reshuffle last week.

One of the judges, Heru Pramono, quit the panel following his appointment last week to head the Sumedang District Court in West Java.

Central Jakarta District Court clerk Djoko Santoso said the substitute judge needed more time to study the case before reaching a decision.

Asian Agri filed a defamation suit against Tempo for publishing an investigative report in its Jan. 15-21, 2007, edition about alleged tax evasion involving the company. The firm is demanding Rp 5.5 billion (US$580,000) in damages, calling the report a trial by the press. --JP