Prosecutors seek 6-month sentence for Prita

Seeking justice: Prita Mulyasari, charged with defaming Omni International Hospital, listens as prosecutors read their demand for a six-month jail sentence for the mother of two. (Antara/Ismar Patrizki)

Prosecutors in the defamation trial of housewife Prita Mulyasari have sought a six-month jail sentence for the mother of two.

Prita is charged with defaming Omni International Hospital, after she wrote an email – that was later widely circulated – complaining about the hospital's poor service.

Prosecutor Riyadi said Wednesday that Prita had forwarded the email to 20 people, and added the email would “stay on the Internet for an indefinite time”.

In her Aug. 27, 2008, email to several friends — titled “Penipuan (Fraud by) Omni International Hospital Alam Sutera Tangerang” — Prita expressed her disappointment with the hospital's treatment of her from Aug. 7 to 12. The email later made the rounds of mailing lists.

“It’s very difficult to remove the email [from the Internet],” Riyadi told the Tangerang District court.

He added there had been no sign of reconciliatory efforts during the trial, dismissing off a government-initiated mediation between Prita and the hospital outside the court.

Prita had been held at the Tangerang Women’s Penitentiary for three weeks after she was named a suspect in the case, igniting public rage. She was later released, but forbidden from leaving the city.

The trial has been adjourned for two weeks, when it will reconvene to hear arguments from the defense.