Court declines request to return Goenawan's asset.

(From The Jakarta Post)

The East Jakarta District Court on Wednesday decided not to annul the previous court order to freeze property belonging to Tempo co-founder Goenawan Mohamad, the accused in a defamation suit filed by businessman Tomy Winata.

The decision came after a lengthy argument between the legal teams of the plaintiff and the accused.

"Although we realize that the previous order is erroneous, the panel of judges will not revoke it, not before a final ruling on this case," presiding judge Zainal Abidin Sangaji told the courtroom packed with journalists.

Sangaji said the asset preservation order issued on Sept. 25 would still …