Muchdi's Contra-Memorandum of Appeal Filed

VIVA news - Muchdi Purwopranjono's team of advocates led by Adnan Wirawan filed the contra-memorandum of appeal to the South Jakarta District Court at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb 18.

Previously, the contra-memorandum of appeal was officially submitted by Attorney General's Office in response to Muchdi Purwopranjono's acquittal verdict. The contra-memorandum was submitted by prosecutor Cyrus Sinaga to the South Jakarta District Attorney.

In the contra-memorandum, the prosecuting attorney unveiled the regulations disregarded by the panel of judges of the South Jakarta District Court. According to the Solicitor General for General Crimes, Abdul Hakim Ritonga, the judicial process was not properly held. "Or else, the judges have exceeded their authority," he said.

The South Jakarta District Court freed Muchdi Pr of all charges. The panel of judges stated that there was no proof of Muchdi's involvement in Munir's murder. On behalf of this verdict, the prosecuting attorney proposed an appeal.

In Munir's murder case, the Supreme Court sentenced former Garuda Indonesia Airlines pilot, Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, to 20 years of imprisonment. The panel which included Bagir Manan, Parman Soeparman, Djoko Sarwoko, Paulus E Lotulung, and Harifin Tumpa stated that Polly was proved committing a premeditated murder over Munir, a Human Rights activist.

In addition, the Supreme Court sentenced Chief Secretary Airbus A330 Pilot PT Garuda Indonesia, Rohainil Aini, to one year of imprisonment. Aini was convicted making false documents for Pollycarpus' flight to Singapore.

Munir died aboard Garuda Indonesia during a Jakarta-Amsterdam flight on September 7, 2004. It was later discovered that his death was caused by arsenic poisoning.

Translated by: Ariyantri E. Tarman