Yos Sudarso, 71, was busy counting the coins in a food stall, which has been converted to a post from Monday until Thursday to calculate coins donated for Prita Mulyasari, 32.
Yos is among 10 volunteers joining to count the coins collected through donation drive Coins for Prita.
The initiative is designed to support Prita, who was ordered by Banten High Court to pay a Rp 204 million fine for defaming Omni International Hospital.
“I faced the same situation as Prita. During my hardship, many people helped me,” Yos said.
The post reportedly needs more volunteers to count the bag of coins at the post, on Jl. Langsat, Kramat Pela, South Jakarta.
The post is the last pool for people donating coins after the Coins for Prita has decided to close the donation until Monday evening.
Samsul N. A., a Coins for Prita coordinator, said there were many coins from other pools in other provinces across the country, which have yet to be sent to the post.
“Even until today, many people still came to the temporary posts.
“We must tell them to go to the counting post.”
Meanwhile, Prita said she was very touched by the public support and called the cause “a miracle”.
“This is a proof of God’s power. People from different walks of life have shown [me] spontaneous support,” Prita told The Jakarta Post over the phone.
Prita said she would leave the coordinators of the Coin for Prita to decide what they would use the money for.
“Perhaps they can donate the money to the poor or establish a humanitarian foundation.”
Prita plans to set up a foundation to help people who experienced malpractice or ill treatment from hospitals.
“But ,honestly, I do not know how to start [a foundation].”
Slamet Yuwono, a member of Prita’s defense team, said Prita planned to receive the coins in a music concert that would be dedicated for her on Dec. 20.
Slamet added Prita was still waiting for the chance to make an out of court settlement with Omni through the Health Ministry’s mediation.
“Peaceful agreement between both sides must solve both the civil and the criminal trials.”
Prita’s defense team had asked the ministry to put two points in the peace agreement draft.
Slamet said Prita was willing to drop all charges if the doctors who treated her confirmed Prita’s innocence and if the hospital gave Prita’s medical records to be used as the criminal court’s evidence.
“We still can solve the problem in an amicable way.”
On Monday, Omni officially asked the Banten High Court not to execute its verdict, which ordered Prita to pay Rp 204 million to the hospital.
The hospital also promised not to launch another civil lawsuit against Prita.
“This is the proof of our good will to settle the problems,” said Omni’s lawyer, Risma Situmorang.
Last Friday, the hospital announced its willingness to end its civil suit.
Risma added Omni left it up to Prita to make a peace agreement.
