An Indonesian court sentenced a prominent magazine editor to one year in jail on Thursday for libel against a high-profile businessman in a case that has prompted fears the country's press freedom may be under threat.
The Central Jakarta court found Bambang Harymurti, editor-in-chief of Indonesia's leading news weekly, Tempo, guilty of spreading wrongful information about tycoon Tomy Winata.
"The defendant, Bambang Harymurti, has been proven legally and convincingly guilty of spreading false news that prompted unrest and slander ... (We are) sentencing the defendant to one year," said Judge Suripto.
Two reporters from the magazine also found to have been involved were not sentenced to jail. The court ruled that "the responsibility lies in the hands of the chief editor".
The editor was allowed to remain free pending an appeal.
The Tempo article found libellous, published last year, covered a fire that gutted parts of a textile market.