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High-Profile SBY Defamation Trial Finally Opens Under Way
Ronna Nirmala | February 11, 2011

Edhie Baskoro, son of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is one of several plaintiffs suing over claims that kickbacks from the Bank Century bailout were paid to those close to the president. (JG Photo/Yudhi Sukma Wijaya) Edhie Baskoro, son of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is one of several plaintiffs suing over claims that kickbacks from the Bank Century bailout were paid to those close to the president. (JG Photo/Yudhi Sukma Wijaya)
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After being beset by unruly crowds, a walkout by the defendants and no-shows by the plaintiffs, a libel suit filed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s son and three ministers finally had its first full hearing on Thursday.

The defendants, Mustar Bonaventura and Ferdy Simawun from the ultranationalist youth group Bendera, are being sued for claiming in December 2009 that several members of Yudhoyono’s inner circle and his re-election campaign team accepted Rp 1.8 trillion ($201 million) in kickbacks from the controversial Rp 6.7 trillion government rescue of Bank Century.

Those filing the suit include Yudhoyono’s son Edhie Baskoro; Djoko Suyanto, the coordinating minister for legal, political and security affairs; Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng; and Hatta Rajasa, the coordinating minister for economic affairs.

At the last hearing on Jan. 20, Mustar and Ferdy walked out in the middle of proceedings after the judge ordered their supporters to be ejected for being too rowdy.

That day in court was also marred by the fifth absence of Edhie and Hatta.

The next scheduled hearing on Feb. 3 was scrapped after Mustar and Ferdy said they had to be hospitalized after being attacked by unknown assailants.

The trial finally got underway on Thursday at the Central Jakarta District Court, with Hatta taking the stand first, followed by Edhie.

Their testimonies were interrupted several times by Saor Siagian, a lawyer for the defendants who objected to the lawsuit, the judges hearing the case, the way the trial was being conducted and Edhie’s earlier absences.

“Since the first hearing, there has been too much unfairness in the case, from the difficulties in getting the witnesses to come to court to testify, to the judges’ overly protective attitude toward the plaintiffs,” he said.

Last week, Saor filed a motion objecting to the sitting panel of judges owing to their perceived bias, saying he wanted new judges to take over the case.

However, judge Bayu Isdiatmoko remained at in charge of Thursday’s proceedings.

“Your objection is still being processed, so in the meantime I will still be hearing this case,” he told Saor.

All of the hearings so far have been marred by unruly behavior in the spectators’ gallery and outside the courthouse by Bendera supporters.

However, this latest session was markedly toned down, due largely to the beefed up security presence around the court and restrictions on the number of Bendera members allowed in.

For those barred from entering, the court provided a live TV feed of the proceedings.