Indonesian prosecutors demand 20 years for Australian permant resident who allegedly poisoned her friend

Record ID: 82989

  • Title: Indonesian prosecutors demand 20 years for Australian permant resident who allegedly poisoned her friend
  • Date: 6th October 2016
  • Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (OCTOBER 5, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PACKED COURT ROOM PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES JUDGES ENTERING COURT ROOM ATTENDEES PRESIDING JUDGE, KISWORO, OPENING COURT SESSION LAWYER TEAM OF SUSPECT JESSICA KUMALA WONGSO SUSPECT JESSICA KUMALA WONGSO ENTERING COURT ROOM AND SITTING DOWN IN FRONT OF JUDGES KUMALA WONGSO SITTING DOWN TAKING PICTURE WITH MOBILE PHONE COURT SESSION ONGOING JUDGES TWO POLICE OFFICERS GUARD AT COURT ROOM PROSECUTORS (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) PROSECUTOR MEMBER, MELANI SAYING: "We declare that the defendant Jessica Kumala alias Jessica Kumala Wongso alias Jess is convicted of criminal offenses, premeditated murder as regulated by article 340 of criminal law book." CAMERAMEN (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) PROSECUTOR MEMBER, MELANI SAYING: "And for punishment Jessica Kumala alias Jessica Kumala Wongso alias Jess jail for 20 years, deducting the detention period she has served." AN ATTENDEE FILMING WITH HIS MOBILE PHONE MELANI GIVING DOCUMENT OF CHARGES TO JUDGES AND LAWYERS LAWYER TEAM END OF COURT SESSION KUMALA WONGSO WALKING TO HER LAWYER TEAM VARIOUS OF KUMALA WONGSO DISCUSSING WITH HER LAWYER TEAM KUMALA WONGSO LEAVING COURT ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) HEAD OF LAWYER TEAM, OTTO HASIBUAN SAYING: "For me, for us and for Jessica even for a day she does not deserve to be punished as there is no evidence. I'm very concerned with what prosecutors have done as they are adding and reducing some witness testimonies." MEDIA SURROUNDING HASIBUAN EXTERIOR OF CENTRAL JAKARTA COURT
  • Embargoed: 21st October 2016 02:18
  • Keywords: Australia permanent resident law murder poisoning court Indonesia cyanide coffee
  • Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • City: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
  • Reuters ID: LVA00152V94XX
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS NOTE, PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
    Indonesian prosecutors on Wednesday (October 5) sought a 20-year jail Jessica Kumala Wongso for the premeditated murder of her friend.
    Prosecutors read out the charges in a court session that lasted for nine hours.
    The 27-year-old an Australian resident allegedly poisoned her friend by lacing her coffee with cyanide at a Jakarta cafe in early January.
    "We declare that the defendant Jessica Kumala alias Jessica Kumala Wongso alias Jess is convicted of criminal offenses, premeditated murder as regulated by article 340 of criminal law book," one of the prosecutors, Melani, told a packed court in Jakarta.
    The case has grabbed widespread media attention in Indonesia and neighbouring Australia.
    Kumala Wongso's chief lawyer, Otto Hasibuan, said that his client was not guilty as there is no evidence.
    "For me, for us and for Jessica even for a day she does not deserve to be punished as there is no evidence. I'm very concerned with what prosecutors have done as they are adding and reducing some witness testimonies," he told reporters after the hearing ended.
    The hearing will resume on October 12.
    Indonesian President Joko Widodo's administration has waded into the case, saying Wongso would not be executed if found guilty, according to media. The deal was made with Australia in order for Australian police to assist in the investigation.
    Australia does not have a death penalty and opposes its use in other countries.
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