Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 09/10/2008 10:58 AM | Headlines
The South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday ruled it would continue with the trial of former top intelligence official Muchdi Purwopranjono, charged with premeditating the murder of a prominent human rights campaigner.
The court dismissed pleas by the defendant, a former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy chief, and his lawyers.
Last week, Muchdi pleaded not guilty to ordering the 2004 murder of Munir Said Thalib, claiming the indictment against him was flawed and based only on assumptions in determining his motives in the murder.
The panel of judges, however, rejected objections filed by Muchdi's lawyers and declared the prosecutors' indictment was not flawed.
"Because the indictment is lawful, the trial of Muchdi must continue," presiding judge Suharto told the packed courtroom.
He said the indictment determining the defendant's motives for murdering Munir would be investigated in upcoming hearings, in which 19 witnesses are scheduled to testify.
During the first hearing two weeks ago, prosecutors alleged Muchdi sought revenge against Munir, who was instrumental in the defendant's dismissal as head of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) only 52 days after his inauguration in 1998.
In an investigation by the Commission on Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Munir revealed that several Kopassus soldiers were involved in the abduction between 1997 and 1998 of 13 activists critical of the government.
The incident led to Muchdi's dismissal, serving as a slap in his face because it effectively ended his military career, prosecutors said.
The judges also rejected objections from defense lawyers that the case fell outside the jurisdiction of the South Jakarta District Court because the murder occurred outside Indonesia.
On Sept. 7, 2004, Munir was found dead from arsenic poisoning on board a Garuda Indonesia flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore. Former Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the murder.
"Prosecutors were right in their indictment, charging Muchdi with facilitating Pollycarpus in the murder, and this took place in the BIN office in South Jakarta," Suharto said.
"Moreover, seven of the 19 witnesses live in South Jakarta, while five others live nearby, putting this case under the jurisdiction of this court."
He said the trial would resume on Sept.16 to hear witness testimonies, and asked prosecutors to present no more than three witnesses at each hearing.
Prosecutor Cirus Sinaga said his team would present rights activists Usman Hamid and Hendardi, as well as Munir's widow Suciwati.
Cirus added BIN agent Budi Santoso, who testified that Muchdi had ordered Pollycarpus to kill Munir, and is currently on duty in Pakistan, would also testify. The prosecutor said he would coordinate with the Foreign Ministry to arrange the testimony.
Tuesday's hearing reached a tense moment after Muchdi suddenly snapped at Suciwati, ordering her to shut her mouth after her short comment against him.
One of Muchdi's female supporters then attempted to confront Suciwati, but other visitors calmed her down.
The South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday ruled it would continue with the trial of former top intelligence official Muchdi Purwopranjono, charged with premeditating the murder of a prominent human rights campaigner.
The court dismissed pleas by the defendant, a former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy chief, and his lawyers.
Last week, Muchdi pleaded not guilty to ordering the 2004 murder of Munir Said Thalib, claiming the indictment against him was flawed and based only on assumptions in determining his motives in the murder.
The panel of judges, however, rejected objections filed by Muchdi's lawyers and declared the prosecutors' indictment was not flawed.
"Because the indictment is lawful, the trial of Muchdi must continue," presiding judge Suharto told the packed courtroom.
He said the indictment determining the defendant's motives for murdering Munir would be investigated in upcoming hearings, in which 19 witnesses are scheduled to testify.
During the first hearing two weeks ago, prosecutors alleged Muchdi sought revenge against Munir, who was instrumental in the defendant's dismissal as head of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) only 52 days after his inauguration in 1998.
In an investigation by the Commission on Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Munir revealed that several Kopassus soldiers were involved in the abduction between 1997 and 1998 of 13 activists critical of the government.
The incident led to Muchdi's dismissal, serving as a slap in his face because it effectively ended his military career, prosecutors said.
The judges also rejected objections from defense lawyers that the case fell outside the jurisdiction of the South Jakarta District Court because the murder occurred outside Indonesia.
On Sept. 7, 2004, Munir was found dead from arsenic poisoning on board a Garuda Indonesia flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore. Former Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the murder.
"Prosecutors were right in their indictment, charging Muchdi with facilitating Pollycarpus in the murder, and this took place in the BIN office in South Jakarta," Suharto said.
"Moreover, seven of the 19 witnesses live in South Jakarta, while five others live nearby, putting this case under the jurisdiction of this court."
He said the trial would resume on Sept.16 to hear witness testimonies, and asked prosecutors to present no more than three witnesses at each hearing.
Prosecutor Cirus Sinaga said his team would present rights activists Usman Hamid and Hendardi, as well as Munir's widow Suciwati.
Cirus added BIN agent Budi Santoso, who testified that Muchdi had ordered Pollycarpus to kill Munir, and is currently on duty in Pakistan, would also testify. The prosecutor said he would coordinate with the Foreign Ministry to arrange the testimony.
Tuesday's hearing reached a tense moment after Muchdi suddenly snapped at Suciwati, ordering her to shut her mouth after her short comment against him.
One of Muchdi's female supporters then attempted to confront Suciwati, but other visitors calmed her down.
