Ex-President Guilty of Defaming Official
Ousted Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid was found guilty of defaming a government official, whom he accused of helping one of former President Suharto’s sons escape a jail sentence.
Central Jakarta Court Judge Amiruddin Zakaria ordered Wahid to pay $53,000 in damages to former Forestry Ministry official Soeripto, whom Wahid dismissed in March. Soeripto, like many Indonesians, uses only one name.
Wahid, who was ousted in July, is guilty of “acting improperly, which led to the smearing of Soeripto’s good name,” Zakaria said in his verdict.
Zakaria said Wahid accused Soeripto of helping Hutomo Mandala Putra, better known as Tommy, escape his 18-month jail sentence for graft by using a Forestry Ministry helicopter.
A court official said Wahid’s lawyers had not decided whether to appeal.
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