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Courtroom quarrel marks student protester's trial
The absence of a key witness in the trial of student John Irvan for assaulting a police officer triggered heated arguments between the defense lawyers and prosecutors
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The absence of a key witness in the trial of student John Irvan for assaulting a police officer triggered heated arguments between the defense lawyers and prosecutors.
The witness was Second Insp. Henrico Manurung, the police officer whom John allegedly assaulted in May during a rally protesting against the fuel price rise.
The hearing at South Jakarta District Court was scheduled to start at 1 p.m. on Wednesday with testimony from witnesses other than Manurung.
But one lawyer for the defense, J.J. Amstrong Sembiring, said Manurung should have been the first witness, in compliance with trial procedural rules.
"We know the key witness is going to testify against our client. But we want the trial to proceed in accordance with the law," he said.
The hearing turned into a courtroom drama when the defense and the prosecution became involved in a heated argument as judges, reporters and visitors watched on in silence.
Later, the lawyers walked out of the courtroom and students who came to support John held a rally outside the court.
The trial was then adjourned for several hours until 5 p.m., when Manurung arrived. Sembiring claimed Manurung had turned up because the team of lawyers "pressurized" the court officials.
The defendant, a student from Mpu Tantular University in Jakarta, allegedly severely beat Manurung during a demonstration outside Moestopo Beragama University. Manurung was reported to have suffered bruising all over his body.
John was charged under Article 315 of the Criminal Code on assault, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The trial was adjourned until next Wednesday to hear other witnesses.
The court was also trying four other students who faced similar charges after being involved in violent demonstrations against the fuel price increase.
The defendants are Romson Baskoro Purba, Marshala Napitupulu, Jefree Firdaus and Agus Bintoro.
The four were accompanied by lawyers from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH).
During the hearings on Wednesday, about 50 students from two student organizations held two separate protests outside the court building. Both groups were demanding the government cut fuel prices and urged the court to clear their friends of all charges as they were innocent. Although conveying the same message, the two groups assembled in two different spots near each other, each with its own banners and megaphones.
The two separate demonstrations did succeed in attracting the attention of the people who came to court. (naf)
