TANGERANG HIGH COURT ACQUITS PRITA

Tangerang, Banten, Dec.29 (ANTARA) - Prita Mulyasari (32), a housewife charged with defamation for complaining about sub-standard hospital treatment on the Internet, was acquitted by a jury led by Arthur Hangewa at the Tangerang High Court on Tuesday.

The judge in the decision said Prita had sent an e-mailed message to 20 addresses on "Deception at Omni International Hospital" in order to let others know.

The message did not contain defamation and it was meant to make concerned parties know, the judge said.

The judge agreed with Slamet Yuono, Prita's lawyer from OC Kaligis legal office, that Prita was a victim of the hospital's medical service.

The judge also was of the view that a defamation through e-mail could not be proven and therefore she must be freed from all charges.

Prita did not defame the hospital but she just wanted to remind her friends to be careful when getting medical services.

She had been detained for 21 days for telling friends over the Internet about Omni International Hospital's poor service, had been released recently after the public questioned the need for her detention.

She was detained for alleged violation of the Law on Information and Electronic Transactions, but still had to stand trial at the Tangerang district court.

She was released after her status was changed and was put under city arrest. Public Prosecutor Riyadi at the Tangerang High Court had earlier demanded a six year jail term and a fine of Rp6 billion.