Witness testifies against brother of Bangli regent

Ni Komang Erviani ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar   |  Wed, 11/18/2009 1:11 PM  |  The Archipelago

A witness revealed the chronology of the murder of Radar Bali journalist Anak Agung Bagus Narendra Prabangsa at the trial of Nyoman Susrama at the Denpasar District Court on Tuesday.

Witness I Dewa Bagus Adnyana Narbawa aka Gus Oblong admitted at the trial presided over by Judge Djumain that he was on the site of the incident when the murder occurred on Feb. 11, 2009.

Gus Oblong is also one of the nine suspected for the murder of the journalist. He testified before the court that he had hit the victim on the head with a one-meter long piece of wood.

Oblong added the suspect, Susrama, the younger brother of Bangli Regent I Nengah Arnawa, also hit Prabangsa before the victim fell to the ground unconscious.

Susrama was the last person to hit the murdered journalist.

Susrama and eight other suspects were allegedly motivated to murder Prabangsa due to the journalist's reports on graft cases in several projects in Bangli regency.

Susrama, a newly elected member of the Bangli legislative council, is facing the death sentence if found guilty of the charge.

"Prabangsa collapsed after being hit for four times, " Oblong said.

The witness admitted to having lied during previous court sessions.

"Nyoman Rencana *another suspect* has threatened me to lie before the court," said Oblong, who revoked his previous report.

"I felt so sorry and I want to tell the truth now."

Oblong said they later took Prabangsa's body in the car and dumped it off the waters of Bungsil cape in Klungkung waters, 60 kilometers northwest of Denpasar.

The police charged Susrama and eight other suspects of violating the Criminal Law No. 340 Article 55 for premeditated murder.

Seven suspects, including Susrama and Gus Oblong are facing death sentences.

Susrama strongly denied Oblong's testimony.

His lawyer Sugeng Teguh Santoso confirmed that the police and the prosecutor had orchestrated the charge against Susrama and other suspects.

The trial was adjourned until Nov. 19 to hear testimonies from other witnesses, including A. A. Sagung Prihantini, the widow of the murdered journalist.

Last Wednesday, journalists filed a serious complaint against Susrama's lawyers.

Grouped under the Solidarity of Bali Journalists, the journalists filed their complaint with I ndonesian Advocate Association (Peradi).

The group accused the lawyers of forcing witnesses to give false testimonies during Susrama's trial.

The Solidarity of Bali Journalists consists of five journalist associations including AJI, the Indonesian Journalist Association (PJI), the Indonesian Journalist Union (PWI), the Indonesian Reformed Journalist Union (PWI Reformasi) and the Indonesian Multi-Media Journalist Association (Perwami).

Peradi chairman Robert Khuana, promised to follow up on the complaint immediately using the 2008 law on advocates and Peradi's regulations.

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