The legal move was cheered by religious groups in the predominantly Muslim
country.
A prosecutor told the South Jakarta District Court that Erwin Arnada oversaw
photo shoots and selected revealing pictures of female models in underwear,
some showing partially exposed breasts.
"The models also had inviting expressions on their faces," said Resni Muchtar,
calling for the maximum sentence of 32 months in prison.
Indonesia is a secular nation with more Muslims than any other in the world,
some 190 million.
But most practice a moderate form of the faith, due in part to Hindu, Buddhist
and animist beliefs that held sway long before traders brought Islam to its
shores in the 14th Century.
Fundamentalists, taking cues from the Middle East, have been pushing hard to
change that.
When the toned-down version of Playboy Indonesia first hit the streets in April
amid a blaze of publicity, they loudly protested and in one incident threw
rocks at its offices in the capital, forcing it to move to mostly Hindu Bali.
Arnada has argued that his magazine contains no nudity and is much tamer than
Indonesian versions of Western and local men's lifestyle magazines that have
been on sale for several years with little outcry.
Pornographic films on video, though illegal, also are sold more or less openly
at stores across the country.
"But as a good citizen, I will follow the legal process," Arnada, who was not
required to make a plea, told reporters after Thursday's hearing.
His trial was adjourned until December 14, when witnesses will be called.
Playboy, which already has 20 international editions with content tailored to
local tastes, has been seeking new markets in Asia and Indonesia is its first
predominantly Muslim nation.
The magazine continues to be sold on street corners for around USD $5.00, more
than twice the minimum daily wage in Jakarta, despite efforts by Muslim groups
who said they were grateful at least that the case had made it to court.
"Playboy is the global icon of pornography," said Ma'ruf Amin, a member of
Indonesia Council of Clerics, the country's highest Islamic body.
"We will never tolerate its presence in our country."
Playboy was targeted for prosecution by a hardline Islamic group because it is
"the world's icon of pornography," a prominent member testified Thursday.
The co-chairman of the Front for Islamic Defenders, who goes by the single name
Baharuzaman, filed a complaint with police which led to the indecency charges
against Arnada. He could face up to 36 months in prison if convicted.
Appearing as a witness at the South Jakarta District Court, Baharuzaman said
Playboy "violated norms of morality and politeness." Our organization targeted
it "because it is the global icon of pornography," he said.
Playboy launched a tame version of its magazine in the world's largest Muslim
nation in April, drawing protests from conservatives who demanded it be pulled
from news stands. Its office was relocated to the resort island of Bali.
Unlike dozens of foreign editions, the Indonesian version has no nudity.
Indonesian tabloids publish more explicit photos than Playboy and pornographic
films are widely sold at black markets across the country.
