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Jakarta Post

Jessica's psychological examination unjustifiable: Witness

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Mon, September 19, 2016 Published on Sep. 19, 2016 Published on 2016-09-19T13:13:44+07:00

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Murder defendant Jessica Kumala Wongso attends a hearing of the trial of Wayan Mirna Salihin's murder at the Central Jakarta District Court on Sept. 1 Murder defendant Jessica Kumala Wongso attends a hearing of the trial of Wayan Mirna Salihin's murder at the Central Jakarta District Court on Sept. 1 (Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf)

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sychologist Dewi Taviana testified at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday, saying that the psychological examination conducted on murder suspect Jessica Kumala Wongso by psychologist Antonia Ratih at the police station was unjustifiable.

When Antonia said Jessica showed irregularities when she put paper bags on the table and closed the bill before Wayan Mirna Salihin came to the Olivier café in Central Jakarta on Jan. 6, it was not only based on improper methodology, but based on her subjectivity, Dewi added.

Mirna died on her way to the hospital after she drank coffee at the café in Central Jakarta with Jessica and another friend on Jan. 6. Prosecutors said she died because of cyanide poison.

"The scientific method should be systematic and measurable. It's different with common people's supervision which was spontaneous and random," Dewi told judges, adding that the psychologist should have used multiple methods and tools throughout the assessment.

Dewi stressed that to assess Jessica's behavior, the psychologist should have examined the consistency of Jessica's behaviors within a lapse of time and different situations.

“It is not justified if the psychologist assessed Jessica based on common people's behavior without conducting survey and statistics,” Dewi said, adding Antonia's decision to reveal Jessica's record in trial had violated psychology ethics.

"The patient's examination results are strictly confidential. To open the document, a judge decision is required. The result should also not be opened before mass media because it will spark judgment by the media," she said. (bbn)

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