Complaint about poor services not libel, expert says

Citizens are encouraged to continue to file complaints about poor public services despite the controversial detention of a housewife, who is charged with libel for posting her grudge with a hospital’s service on the Internet.

Rudi Satrio of the University of Indonesia's School of Law said Friday that complaining about public services did not constitute defamation.

“Article 310 of the Criminal Code on defamation exempts complaint about public services or 'defend self due to exigency situation',” Rudi said.

He, therefore, blamed prosecutors for charging housewife Prita Mulyasari with defamation articles under the Criminal Code and the cyber law.

Prita is accused of violating Article 27 of the Electronic Information and Transaction Law (ITE) and Articles 310 and 311 of the Criminal Code on defamation after sending an email containing her complaint about medical service she received at the Omni International Hospital in Tangerang. The e-mail was somehow spread out over mailing lists and online forums. (bbs)