Judge Amiruddin Zakaria had reached the crucial part of his verdict: "Therefore, the panel sets free the defendant, Amarudin Ongko, of all charges or vrijspraak." He then banged the gavel to indicate the finality of the verdict. The charges filed by the attorney general who asked that Ongko be imprisoned for 16 year were dismissed.

There were no shouts of happiness. On that Friday, January 10, in the courtroom of the Central Jakarta Distr