Antigraft activist walks free despite conviction<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Antigraft activist Farid Faqih reportedly left Jantho
\nPenitentiary on Friday after the prison did not receive
\nnotification of his detention being extended.<\/p>\n
\"The (initial) notification issued by Aceh High Court expired
\non July 5, and was not extended by the court,\" said his lawyer,
\nRufriadi, on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Farid was sentenced to one year in prison by Aceh Besar
\nDistrict Court for stealing tsunami aid, but he has appealed the
\nverdict.<\/p>\n
However, Aceh High Court said it had extended his detention.
\n\"The high court issued notification advising that Farid was to be
\nkept in prison from June 29 to July 28,\" said Farida Hanoum, the
\ndeputy president of the high court.<\/p>\n
She said Farid's lawyers filed an appeal with the high court
\non June 28, and two days later the high court extended Farid's
\ndetention.<\/p>\n
Farida said she signed the letter of notification herself.<\/p>\n
\"The letter was sent to Jantho Penitentiary. I can't
\nunderstand why Farid was released,\" said Farida.<\/p>\n
Farida said the high court was studying Farid's appeal and
\nwould appoint a panel of judges to hear the case.<\/p>\n
Farid's case surfaced at the end of January, about a month
\nafter the Aceh tsunami, which killed some 129,000 people in the
\nprovince. Farid, the coordinator of Government Watch, was
\narrested after allegedly loading donated food, medicine and
\ncomputer equipment onto a truck at a Banda Aceh airport.<\/p>\n
The donations were from the military officers' wives
\nassociation. A military officer, Capt. Suaib, accosted Farid and
\naccused him of stealing the aid. The officer also assaulted the
\nGovernment Watch coordinator. Farid was arrested and charged with
\ntheft. However, he claims that he was moving the donations to a
\nwarehouse outside Banda Aceh to prevent them from being damaged
\nby the rain.<\/p>\n
Capt. Suaib was sentenced to three months in prison for
\nassaulting Farid.<\/p>",
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