LAKSAMANA.Net, March 4, 2005 10:56 PM
FPI Leader Offers Support to Adiguna
Laksamana.Net - A leader of an Islamic militia group notorious for attacking bars and
nightclubs has attended the murder trial of tycoon Adiguna Sutowo to offer him moral
support.
Habib Hasan Al Jufri, chairman of the central executive board of the Islamic Defenders'
Front (FPI), was at Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday (3/3/05) as Adiguna's
lawyers demanded that all charges against the defendant be dropped.
Also present were about 20 people from the Bekasi Koran Recital Council, keen to
show their support for the affluent businessman.
Adiguna (47) is accused of murdering waiter Yohannes Berchmans Haerudy Natong,
better known as Rudy (25), at the Jakarta Hilton Hotel's Fluid Club after his bankcard
was rejected during a New Year's Day celebration.
The Hilton is owned by Adiguna's older brother Ponjto Sutowo. Their father is the late
Ibnu Sutowo, the former president director of state oil and gas company Pertamina,
which he almost bankrupted in the mid-1970s due to mismanagement.
Adiguna has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, but several witnesses have identified
him as the killer. Police have said the defendant was under the influence of alcohol
and shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine), and also possibly cocaine, at the time
of the shooting.
Some observers were puzzled by Jufri's presence at the trial, given that FPI claims to
be violently opposed to consumption of alcohol and drugs. Others said the presence
of Jufri and the Muslim youths gave credibility to claims that paramilitary Islamic
groups can be hired.
Jufri explained his presence by saying he felt sorry for Adiguna because it seemed
the public had already deemed him guilty.
"I was present in my capacity as an individual, not [as a leader of] FPI. I sympathize
with a case like this, as the judges have not yet reached a verdict but already there
have been biased comments. I see there are people who have judged, whereas the
judges have not yet made a decision," he was quoted as saying by detikcom online
news portal.
Adiguna's lawyers also complained that media coverage of the case had made their
client appear guilty.
Amir Karyatin urged the panel of three judges to remain impartial, as the Indonesian
judiciary is based on the principle of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
The lawyers said the case against Adiguna should be thrown out of court because the
prosecution's indictment was "vague and misleading", as it contradicted the police file
on the case.
Prosecutors have said Adiguna flew into a rage and shot Rudy in the head after the
waiter said the tycoon's BCA debit card could not be used to settle a Rp150,000 ($16)
bar tab.
The defense team argued that this description of events leading to the shooting
contradicted police statements given by barman Daniel Sibarani and Adiguna's female
companion, Novia ‘Tinul' Herdiana.
Details of the police records and the indictment merely show the two witnesses gave
slightly different remarks on some of the circumstances surrounding the shooting, but
they both followed a uniform pattern and identified Adiguna as the killer.
Chief prosecutor Andi Herman dismissed the defense's argument, saying the charges
were based not only on the police's case file, but also on an autopsy report and a
police reenactment of the shooting.
He also said the facts remained compatible despite minor discrepancies between the
case file and the indictment.
During the proceedings, Adiguna held onto a tasbih – a string of Muslim beads used
in prayer.
Presiding judge Lilik Mulyadi adjourned the trial until March 9 to hear the
prosecution's response to the defense's objection.
Adiguna is charged under the Criminal Code's Article 338 on murder with intent but no
premeditation, and under Emergency Law No.12/1951 on illegal possession of a
firearm and ammunition.
Article 338 carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in jail, while the Emergency
Law carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
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