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Kalla Appeals Court’s Slander Verdict
Muninggar Sri Saraswati | January 26, 2010

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Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla is credited with being instrumental in bringing peace to Aceh, but he is struggling to get any peace from an aggrieved Jakarta-based doctor.

Kalla, who has been accused of many things but never of being dull, has lodged an appeal against a verdict by the Central Jakarta District Court, which in November found him guilty of defaming the doctor by labeling him “insane.”

The court ordered Kalla to pay Rp 72 million ($7,700) in compensation and issue apologies in five national daily newspapers and on six television stations for three consecutive days.

Wakil Kamal, a lawyer representing the aggrieved Panji Utomo, a young doctor based in Jakarta, said on Tuesday that he applauded the court for its courage in delivering the verdict against the powerful politician.

Panji filed a Rp 300 billion lawsuit in February last year after Kalla was quoted in the Media Indonesia and Pos Kota dailies in September 2006 as calling the doctor “insane” for daring to request Rp 5 trillion in aid money from Kalla for victims of the 2004 earthquake and tsunami.

Representing Kalla, lawyer Ali Abbas said his client had appealed the verdict in December. He said Kalla stood by his statement and was not sorry for making it.

Ali, who said Panji had a habit of asking for money, said Kalla had merely meant to question Panji’s sanity after he asked Kalla to transfer Rp 5 trillion into his account.

Having volunteered and been sent to Aceh by the Health Ministry to aid in rehabilitation efforts following the 2004 tsunami, Panji reportedly demanded Kalla give the money he had promised to help tsunami victims during his visit there in 2006.

According to Panji, Kalla promised to disburse Rp 350 million but it never materialized.

In addition, Panji has also sued Media Indonesia and Pos Kota for publishing the story that quoted Kalla describing him as “insane.”