3 institutions to told to pay court fees in milk case

Central Jakarta District Court chief Syahrial Sidik has sent warning letters to the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB), the Health Ministry and the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) about unpaid court fees of Rp 2,064,000 (US$ 241.5) in a contaminated milk case.

He handed one letter to IPB lawyer Edward Erfa on Tuesday.

Edward said his client had not paid the fees because the case was being reviewed. “We have filed for a review. Besides, we fundamentally disagree with verdict to publish the brand names of milk contaminated with bacteria,” he said.

However, Syahrial Sidik underlined that a case review did not cancel the execution of a verdict.

“I have to make it very clear to all of you that in our judicial system, a verdict must still be implemented even though a case review is being done,” he said firmly.

Previously, the Supreme Court ordered the IPB, the Health Ministry and the BPOM to reveal the brands of contaminated milk to the public.

However, the three institutions have rejected the court order due to research ethics. (aaa/ya)