'Tempo' loses legal battle to RAPP

In what was called a "grave for press freedom" in Indonesia, a court here ruled Thursday in favor of a pulp and paper firm in a long-standing dispute with Koran Tempo daily newspaper.

The South Jakarta District Court ordered the newspaper to pay Rp 220.3 million (US$24,000) to PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) and publish apologies to the company in major national media.

Prosecutors had demanded the newspaper pay Rp 1.5 billion in material and immaterial damages.