East Jakarta District Court failed to reach a verdict on a defamation case in due time against two tenants from the ITC Mangga Dua shopping center Thursday.
Khoe Seng Seng (Aseng) and Kwee Meng Luan (Winny) stood trial on defamation charges because they wrote to newspapers complaining about the properties' titles issued by developer PT Duta Pertiwi. The judges were scheduled to deliver the verdict Thursday, but presiding judge Robinson asked for more time.
"We need until Wednesday."
The defendants, represented by the Press Legal Aid Institute, faced charges that carried punishments of one year in prison and two years of probation. They are supported by the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), the Mawar Saron LBH, the Alliance of Independent journalists (AJI), and the Freedom of Expression Defending Committee (KPKB), whose representatives were present.
Rando Purba of the Mawar Saron LBH urged the judges not to overuse the defamation articles in the Criminal Code. The defendants have faced civil and criminal charges with 30 court hearings under their belt.
The South Jakarta District Court, meanwhile, postponed on the same day the verdict for the Koran Tempo newspaper versus Islamic leader Munarman case until next week, because the panel of judges claimed more time was needed to review and examine the evidences submitted by both the plaintiff and the defendant.
The case started when Koran Tempo, in its June 3 2008 issue, published a photograph depicting Munarman, an Islamic Troop commander, strangling a man during a rally, which quickly turned into a violent clash between the troop and the National Alliance for the Freedom of Faith and Religion (AKKBB),
The caption read "Islamic Troop Commander Munarman strangling a member of the AKKBB in Monas".
The commander claimed he was in fact strangling a member of his own troop, in a demonstration for the other members to refrain from violent acts during the rally.
Munarman demanded that PT Tempo Inti Media Terbuka, the daily's publisher, pay him Rp 12 billion (US$1.18 million) despite the fact the daily had issued an official apology regarding the caption.
"We are optimistic about this case. We have a strong position in this, because the caption simply quoted a statement from the AKKBB at a press conference," said Soleh Ali, Koran Tempo's lawyer.
"We will appeal to the High Court if this panel of judges finds us guilty."
The newspaper has received 10 prosecutions for allegedly tarnishing the images of various public figures and companies. (JP/nia,dis)
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|