Prita Mulyasari, a 32-year-old mother of two,is facing a retrial for allegedly
defaming Omni International Hospital.
The infamous defamation trial of Tangerang mother Prita Mulyasari resumed on Wednesday with three witnesses presenting to the court, including the doctor who brought the defamation case forward. Prita Mulyasari, who is accused of defaming Omni International Hospital after sending an email to friends complaining about her treatment, was visibly tired as she entered the Tangerang District Court to face the stern prosecutors who had earlier successfully sought to overturn her acquittal. The witness, Dr. Hengky Gosal, denied any misconduct when he diagnosed Prita with dengue fever at the hospital. However, Prita said the doctor had acted unprofessionally while treating her. “He later said I had mumps, not dengue, and that I was recovering,” Prita told the panel presided over by Arthur Hangewa. “How come? Mumps is considered a serious disease and when I moved to Bintaro hospital, I was immediately put in an isolation room.” The second witness is Dr. Grace Hilza Yarlen, who claimed to have been insulted by Prita when handling her complaint. The hearing is still underway. Tangerang District Court had thrown out the defamation charge against Prita in a preliminary ruling, but prosecutors challenged the decision. The Banten High Court ruled that the district court’s ruling was unlawful and ordered the court to retry the defamation case.
