Across Asia: Indonesia

Court: No e-defamation

An Indonesian court yesterday freed a woman charged with defamation for sending an e-mail to friends complaining about her treatment at a private hospital, a case that fuelled public anger and demand for legal reform. The unpredictable legal system in Southeast Asia's biggest economy is regarded as a key deterrent to investment and critics say it frequently punishes the most vulnerable while favoring the rich and well-connected.

The criminal case against Prita Mulyasari struck a particular chord with thousands of Indonesians who signed pledges of support for the mother of two on sites such as Facebook.