Kinanti Pinta Karana – The civil lawsuit against Prita Mulyasari would be dropped, a spokesman for Omni Hospital said on Friday, however her lawyer has said that Prita should also be released from all criminal charges in the controversial defamation case.

The hospital's decision to drop the civil suit means that Prita will not have to pay the Rp 204 million ($21,624) in damages ordered by the Tangerang State Court. Supporters had rallied around Pinta, rasing millions of rupiah coins to help her pay the damages.

"We have a willingness to drop the civil lawsuit. We hope Prita will respond well to our gesture and the case will be over soon," Omni Hospital's spokesman Lalu Hadi Furqon said on Friday. However, in regards to the criminal charges, the spokesman said the hospital "respected the ongoing legal process."

Slamet Yuwono, Prita's lawyer from OC Kaligis Law Firm, said it was Omni's right to drop the charges.

"What we want is for Omni to drop not only the civil lawsuit but also the criminal one. Besides, thanks to Indonesian people who support Prita, we have enough coins to pay the damages," Slamet said.

"We want the doctors who filed the case to meet the panel of judges and tell them that they are willing to drop the case, withdraw their testimonies and ask for Prita to be released from all charges," he said.

A criminal and civil lawsuit were brought against Prita by Omni Hospital last year, accusing her of defamation for complaining about the hospital's service in emails to her friends.

Prita's case sparked widespread condemnation from the public and last week's court decision that Prita pay civil damages to the hospital triggered a movement called "Coins for Prita."

People from all walks of life collected coins to help her pay the fine. Former Industry Minister Fahmi Idris even offered to pay half of the damages while the Regional Representative Council gave Rp 70 million.