MEDIABLAB UPDATE: WHO IS SUING WHO IN SOUTH EAST ASIA
September 20th 2008 03:15
INDONESIA’S TEMPO MAGAZINE DEFAMATION DECISION TO BE REVIEWED
Indonesia’s judicial review commission will investigate a contentious defamation decision handed down last week in favour of one of the country's wealthiest businessmen after he was accused of tax fraud by news magazine Tempo.
The Australian newspaper points out that the businessman, Sukanto Tanoto, is a fugitive in Singapore while the tax department conducts an investigation into tax fraud allegations against him.
The case was in relation to an in-depth investigation in January 2007 by Tempo, Indonesia's foremost news and investigative journalism publication, into the activities of palm oil producer Asian Agri Group, one of Tanoto's vehicles.
Tanoto is an ethnic Chinese crony of former dictator Suharto. He was named Indonesia's wealthiest man in 2006 by Forbes magazine, with a value of $US2.8 billion.
He had slipped to second place in the rankings by last year, although his wealth had climbed $US4.7 billion by then; he was beaten out only by Indonesia's Social Welfare Minister Aburizal Bakrie, worth $US5.4 billion.
Tempo's 13-page probe suggested Asian Agri was avoiding tax payments, a claim later backed by news that the tax department was investigating it over a payments shortfall of A$179 million.
SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT TAKES WALL STREET JOURNAL ASIA TO COURT ON CONTEMPT CHARGES
The Straits Times reports that the Singapore government is taking the Wall Street Journal Asia newspaper and its editors to court, accusing them of contempt of court.
It alleges that three articles the Wall Street Journal Asia had published in June and July "impugn the impartiality, integrity and independence of the Singapore Judiciary."
Two of the articles are the newspaper's editorials, while the third is a letter by Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan.
Those who will face the charge of contempt of court are: Dow Jones Publishing (Asia), which owns and publishes Wall Street Journal Asia; Mr Daniel Hertzberg, editor, international; and managing editor Christine Glancey.
All three articles allege the Singapore judiciary is not independent.
Indonesia’s judicial review commission will investigate a contentious defamation decision handed down last week in favour of one of the country's wealthiest businessmen after he was accused of tax fraud by news magazine Tempo.
The Australian newspaper points out that the businessman, Sukanto Tanoto, is a fugitive in Singapore while the tax department conducts an investigation into tax fraud allegations against him.
The case was in relation to an in-depth investigation in January 2007 by Tempo, Indonesia's foremost news and investigative journalism publication, into the activities of palm oil producer Asian Agri Group, one of Tanoto's vehicles.
He had slipped to second place in the rankings by last year, although his wealth had climbed $US4.7 billion by then; he was beaten out only by Indonesia's Social Welfare Minister Aburizal Bakrie, worth $US5.4 billion.
Tempo's 13-page probe suggested Asian Agri was avoiding tax payments, a claim later backed by news that the tax department was investigating it over a payments shortfall of A$179 million.
SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT TAKES WALL STREET JOURNAL ASIA TO COURT ON CONTEMPT CHARGES
The Straits Times reports that the Singapore government is taking the Wall Street Journal Asia newspaper and its editors to court, accusing them of contempt of court.
It alleges that three articles the Wall Street Journal Asia had published in June and July "impugn the impartiality, integrity and independence of the Singapore Judiciary."
Those who will face the charge of contempt of court are: Dow Jones Publishing (Asia), which owns and publishes Wall Street Journal Asia; Mr Daniel Hertzberg, editor, international; and managing editor Christine Glancey.
All three articles allege the Singapore judiciary is not independent.
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