LAKSAMANA.Net, March 11, 2005 01:57 AM
Adiguna's Islamic Fan Club Irks Victim's Family
Small Islamic groups are staging shows of support for powerful tycoon Adiguna
Sutowo during his trial for the murder of a waiter at the Jakarta Hilton Hotel, much to
the annoyance of the victim's Christian family.
Adiguna (47) is accused of losing his temper and shooting waiter Yohannes
Berchmans Haerudy Natong, better known as Rudy (25), in the head after his credit
card was rejected during a New Year's Day celebration at the Hilton's Fluid Club.
The Islamic groups attending his trial at Central Jakarta District Court are widely
viewed as rent-a-mobs.
Dressed in white robes and headgear, the Muslim youths claim they are at the court
of their own volition to show moral support for Adiguna, who they believe has been
unfairly judged guilty by the media and the public.
Among those attending Thursday's (9/3/05) trial session were Muslim women from
Cempaka Putih in Central Jakarta. Outside the court they displayed posters with
pro-Adiguna slogans and complained of excessive public bias against the tycoon. The
women had been sent in buses to the courthouse, but they were reluctant to reveal
who was paying for their transportation.
Last week's trial session was attended by Habib Hasan Al Jufri, a senior executive of
the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI), which is notorious for attacking bars and
nightclubs. Jufri was accompanied by dozens of youths dressed in white outfits, but
he denied they were FPI members, saying they were from an Islamic school in
Bekasi, West Java.
Rudy's uncle Gustav and the family's lawyer Hendrik Jehaman on Wednesday said
religious shows of strength had no place in court. They also expressed concern the
presence of the groups could provoke religious conflict.
"Although this trial is open to the public, we are worried the shows of strength in the
name of a group will cause provocation, leading to SARA disturbances," Hendrik was
quoted as saying by state news agency Antara. SARA is an acronym referring to
ethnic, religious, racial and inter-group sensitivities.
Gustav said he had asked Rudy's friends and associates attending the trial not to be
provoked by the pro-Adiguna groups. “We don't want to be provoked, but we will see
how far they go,” said the man from the predominantly Christian province of East
Nusa Tenggara.
Adiguna's head lawyer Mohammad Assegaf denied mobilizing the Islamic groups,
claiming he did not know them.
"I personally don't know them. Whenever I enter the trial I pay no heed to whoever is
sympathetic to the defendant and whoever is against the defendant. So I don't know
who mobilized them,” he was quoted as saying by detikcom online news portal.
Adiguna's lawyers last week argued the case should be thrown out of court, claiming
the prosecution's indictment was “vague and misleading” due to discrepancies in
statements by two witnesses.
Prosecutors on Wednesday urged the judges to reject the defense's request, saying it
was based on a weak argument. "The defense's main objections are contradictory
witness statements. These are the matters that have to be tried in court," chief
prosecutor Andi Herman was quoted as saying by The Jakarta Post daily.
"Of course, statements from two witnesses do not tell the whole story of the
defendant's actions. So we will provide further evidence, including testimony from 11
other witnesses, expert witnesses, documentary evidence and material evidence,” he
said.
The prosecution's case was also based on ballistics tests on the gun and bullet
allegedly used by Adiguna, as well as the results of Rudy's autopsy, he said.
"Therefore, the charges are precise, clear and complete," he added.
Proceedings will resume on March 17, when presiding judge Lilik Mulyadi will rule
whether the trial should continue.
Adiguna is the son of 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. His brother Ponjto Sutowo is the boss of the Jakarta Hilton.
The tycoon has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, but several witnesses have told
police he was 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.
Prosecutors have said Adiguna flew into a rage and shot Rudy after the waiter said
the tycoon's BCA debit card could not be used to settle a Rp150,000 ($16) bar tab.
Adiguna has been 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 firearms. 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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