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RI court acquits `Time' in Soeharto case
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 04/17/2009 2:10 PM | Headlines
The Supreme Court has cleared Time magazine, published by Time Inc., of all charges in a defamation case brought forward by the family of the late former president Soeharto.
Time's lawyer, Todung Mulya Lubis, said in a statement on Thursday that the Supreme Court ruling was a relief for Indonesia's press.
"The decade-long struggle by Time to convince the country's legal institutions has succeeded in proving that news for public interest should not be categorized as a crime," he said.
"This is a historical verdict and should be a reference for all judges handling press cases.
"The verdict should become a jurisprudence which is legally binding. This is a victory for the press, not only for Time. We appreciate the Supreme Court for the just verdict," Todung said.
The Supreme Court overturned its August 2007 ruling, which required the magazine to pay US$106 million in damages to Soeharto's estate.
Supreme Court Justice Hatta Ali said the article in question "did not violate the law" or breach ethical standards.
He said Time owed nothing to the Soeharto family - a decision hailed by the magazine as a victory for press freedom.
The Soeharto family sued Time for defamation over its May 24, 1999 (Asian edition) cover story, which reported that they had amassed $15 billion during his 32 years in power. The former president demanded Rp 189 trillion (US$17.18 billion) in compensation.
The lawsuit was filed at the Central Jakarta District Court by lawyers Juan Felix Tampubolon, O.C. Kaligis and Indriyanto Senoadji.
The magazine disseminated false news and cast aspersions against our client's good name, the Soeharto family lawyers claimed. Soeharto also demanded the magazine restore his good name by issuing a clarification and public apology.
Soeharto also demanded Rp 280 million in immaterial losses to cover legal expenses.
The magazine, following four months of extensive investigation in 11 countries, claimed that the Soehartos' fortune included a $9 billion fund that was transferred from Switzerland to Austria only days after the former strongman resigned on May 21, 1998. The alleged fortune also includes cash, stocks, corporate assets, jewellery and fine arts.
Soeharto has repeatedly denied that he personally had any bank accounts abroad and challenged the magazine to come up with evidence to back its claim. Soeharto died last year at the age of 87.
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