Public Rally to Pay Off Prita’s Court Fine

Last updated at 12:36 AM. Monday 15 March 2010

Share this page

Go to comments December 05, 2009

Nivell Rayda & Kinanti Pinta Karana

Public Rally to Pay Off Prita’s Court Fine

Just two days after she lost an appeal in the Banten High Court over a civil defamation suit brought against her by Omni hospital, Prita Mulyasari has been promised three-quarters of the Rp 204 million ($21,600) in damages she has been ordered to pay.

Former Industry Minister Fahmi Idris has offered to pay half of the damages, saying on Friday Prita could pick up the money from his office at any time as he saw her case as an “injustice.”

Prita lost her appeal over a civil defamation suit brought against her by Omni International Hospital, which is now notorious for pursuing the mother of two through the courts over an e-mail she wrote to friends complaining about her care there.

Fahmi added that he and some friends were planning to raise money over the next three weeks to help pay off the balance.

Several Regional Representatives Council members also pledged funds at a meeting on Thursday and raised Rp 50 million, due to be delivered early next week to Prita’s home in Tangerang, Banten, according to her lawyer, Slamet Yuwono. He added that the money would most likely be received next Tuesday.

“Prita is overwhelmed by the kindness of so many. She is so grateful. Pak Fahmi has offered and councilors have offered. Even private TV stations are raising funds for her,” Slamet told the Jakarta Globe on Friday. “All this money will be put in a separate account and will only be touched should we lose the Supreme Court appeal. We intend to go all the way. When we win the appeal, all the money will be returned to the rightful owners.”

Antyo Rentjoko, one of several bloggers nationwide supporting Prita, said a group of bloggers were accepting “coin donations to bring shame” to the hospital.

“We plan to collect sacks and sacks of coins,” Antyo said. “We don’t care if we fall short. This is not an attempt to break a record.”

Donated coins will be collected at two regular blogger meeting points: at Jalan Taman Margasatwa 60 in Jatipadang, South Jakarta, and Wetiga Restaurant in Mayestik, South Jakarta.

A lawyer for the hospital, Risma Situmorang, told Detik.com on Friday that if Prita apologized it was ready to drop all charges. “We don’t want compensation, no matter how much it is. What we want is our doctors’ good names to be restored.”

A Health Ministry statement on Friday said it was forming a team to mediate between the two parties to help settle the case.

Oversight of Indonesia's Hospitals Deficient: Expert

11:22 AM 16/12/2009

Omni Says It’s Ready to Drop Civil Suit Against Prita, But There Is a Catch

11:44 AM 11/12/2009

Donors Close to Paying Off Prita’s Fine

10:04 PM 07/12/2009

Prita Set To Appeal Defamation Lawsuit

11:14 PM 03/12/2009

Prita Mulyasari E-Mail Defamatory, Expert Testifies

11:33 PM 10/09/2009

Comments

Valkyrie

5:11 PM December 7, 2009

Can't you see them backtracking a little? Somehow, justice has a noble way to move things.

k.o.k.o

4:47 PM December 7, 2009

It is like an old Chinese story of a beggar brought to justice because he ate his bare rice with the helping of cooking smelled from a restaurant. Then the judge paid the bill by banging a coin into stone and paid the owner of the restaurant, who sued the beggar, as payment.

The morale: The hospital should defense it case also in the internet. Any attorney and law enforcers helping this case to real court, I think, is wasting everybody time and money (our tax). Defamed in internet should be answered in internet. Damaged in internet should be settled in the internet. Anyway, why doesn’t the hospital just humbly get it as a feedback, rather forcing an apology for its bad service from a badly treated and complained customer? Are you a public servant or public boss? I smell hypocrisy.

depkeu_man

7:44 PM December 5, 2009

Prita's case could happen to any of you. How many cases where patients are not happy with hospital treatments in this country could turn into similar case like Prita. This got to be a joke. Someone must help Prita to bring this case to the international human right body. I believe there are many people who case about other in this country

enakajah

9:43 AM December 5, 2009

“We don’t want compensation, no matter how much it is. What we want is our doctors’ good names to be restored.” Then I would suggest that the hospital and the doctors be the ones to apologise to Prita and the Nation for taking this to court.

Asking Prita for an apology is missing the point. The nation wants the apology made to Prita for the treatment the hospital has delivered to her by taking such action.

Nothing would restore the reputation of the hospital and the Doctors better than for it to be magnanomous now.

golddust

5:55 AM December 5, 2009

Indonesia justice system work only for the rich.if you are poor and can,t bribe you way out,you are a finish.!!take a corrupt official for example,the more money they steal from the people,the more easier for them to buy justice.if you want to steal,steal big because its worth.our justice system is already sold to the higher bidder,and for the poor,just eat you heart out!!!,there is no such thing equal law for all.