14 soldiers jailed for murder<\/p>\n
Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Purwokerto<\/p>\n
The Purworkerto military court in Central Java sentenced 14
\nsoldiers to between four months and a year in prison on Wednesday
\nfor attacking two suspected criminals, leaving one of them dead.<\/p>\n
The punishment was more severe than the sentences of between
\nthree and 10 months initially sought by military prosecutor Maj.
\nFauzi during the two-day trial.<\/p>\n
Lt. Col. Rizal Tholib, who presided over the trial, said he
\nbased his sentence on evidence that the defendants were guilty of
\ndeliberately committing the deadly crime.<\/p>\n
The 14 convicted troops were members of the Army's Yonif 405
\nbattalion based in Wangon, Purwokerto.<\/p>\n
The soldiers were arrested after beating two suspected
\nthieves, Memet, 20, and Roni, 19 -- both residents from the
\nnearby town of Cilacap -- in July 2001.<\/p>\n
Memet died from his wounds after he was taken to a local
\nhospital the day after the attack. Although he sustained serious
\ninjuries as well, Roni survived the attack.<\/p>\n
Both victims were accused of stealing a motorcycle belonging
\nto one of the defendants, Chief Pvt. Sunarto.<\/p>\n
Incensed by the theft Sunarto, along with other defendants,
\ntook the men to a military compound in Cilacap, where the attack
\ntook place.<\/p>\n
First Lt. Surya Subagya, spokesman for Purwokerto's Wijaya
\nKusuma Military Command, told reporters after the sentencing that
\nall people -- including military officers -- are viewed as equal
\nbefore the law.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/14-soldiers-jailed-for-murder-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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