Former Indonesian First Lady Gets Jail Term in Slashing Case

Former Indonesian first lady Dewi Sukarno was sentenced Friday to 60 days in jail for slashing fellow jet-setter Maria Osmena in the face with a wine glass.

At a hearing in Rio Blanco County District Court, Sukarno pleaded with Judge J. E. DeVilbiss for compassion.

“I do hope the judge knows that I never, never intended to hurt Minnie Osmena,” Sukarno said. But the judge rejected her attorneys’ request that she be placed on probation.

As part of a plea bargain last month, Sukarno, 52, pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree assault and disorderly conduct, avoiding a high-profile trial and a possible prison term of 16 years.

The charges stemmed from an incident at a party in Aspen, Colo., on Jan. 2, 1992, that was attended by Ivana Trump, model Elle MacPherson and billionaire oilman David Koch.

Authorities said Sukarno slashed Osmena, granddaughter of a former Philippine president, with a wine glass after she was insulted. A two-inch shard of glass was removed from Osmena’s cheek, and 37 stitches were required to close the wound.

Sukarno said the slashing was an accident; Osmena said it was intentional. The two prominent, wealthy Asian women--who live in the same New York City apartment building--have made no secret of their dislike for each other.

DeVilbiss sentenced Sukarno to six months of probation on the disorderly conduct charge but imposed a 60-day jail sentence for the assault charge.

While in jail, Sukarno will have to perform 100 hours of community service on a work-release program. She also paid $5,700 in restitution to Osmena for medical costs.

The proceedings were moved to this northwest Colorado ranching town because of pretrial publicity in Aspen.

Prosecutor Chip McCrory said Sukarno showed no remorse and added: “A fine and probation will not have any effect on her. She needs time in jail.”

Sukarno’s New York attorney, Barry Slotnick, said his client has endured a year of shame and humiliation and is remorseful.

“My client admits that it was an unfortunate, stupid response. She lost it,” Slotnick said.

Sukarno, originally from Japan, was the fifth wife of the late Sukarno, Indonesia’s first president. She lived for many years in Paris before moving to New York last year to be with her daughter.