Five tried for burning courthouse in Flores<\/p>\n
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara<\/p>\n
Trials began on Thursday for five suspects in last year's attack
\non a court building and prosecutor's office on Flores Island,
\nEast Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
The defendants were tried separately at the Kupang District
\nCourt amid tight security as the first day of the trial attracted
\nmany observers.<\/p>\n
The five were among 12 suspects being detained by prosecutors
\nat Penfui Prison in the East Nusa Tenggara capital of Kupang.<\/p>\n
The trial of three of the five defendants -- Marthinus Mangu,
\n52, John Ricardo, 29, alias Iwan and Rafael Sinung Jaya Lamanepa,
\n36, -- was presided over by Judge I Gusti Made Antara accompanied
\nby judges Mion Ginting and Karlen Parhusip.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Samuel Say said the three defendants were charged
\nwith jointly attacking a courthouse on Nov. 15, shortly after a
\njudge handed down the verdict of guilty for local Catholic leader
\nand priest Father Frans Amanuen in a defamation case filed by
\nEast Flores Regent Felix Fernandes.<\/p>\n
The suspects were also accused of setting fire to the
\nLarantuka Prosecutor's Office. No fatalities were reported in the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
The trial of two other defendants -- Yohanes Sabon, 27, and
\nAgustinus Diaz, 34, -- at the same court was presided over by
\nJudge Hendri Silaen, accompanied by judges Yoseph Fina and
\nBernadete Samosir.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Sandra Salamony charged the three with inciting a
\nmob to burn the courthouse and the prosecutor's office.<\/p>\n
In the first day of the trials, the prosecutors had to read
\nout the charges several times because the defendants claimed they
\ndid not understand.<\/p>\n
The trials were attended by hundreds of visitors including
\nFather Frans Amanuen, who chairs the Larantuka diocese's
\ncommission for justice and peace, and seven lawyers for the five
\ndefendants.<\/p>\n
After the hearing, which was adjourned until Feb. 24, the
\ndefendants were escorted under tight security to Penfui Prison.<\/p>\n
The Nov. 15 incident began when thousands of residents of
\nLarantuka, the capital of the predominantly Catholic East Flores
\nregency, attended a trial in which Father Frans Amanuen faced
\ncharges of libel.<\/p>\n
Amanuen was taken to court after he accused the East Flores
\nregent of being involved in a price markup of a multipurpose boat
\nthat was purchased for the local government. The boat is said to
\nhave been worth Rp 3 billion (US$352,941).<\/p>\n
In a local publication, Amanuen lashed out at the regent,
\nsaying that the regent had enriched himself through the purchase
\nof the boat.<\/p>\n
Regent Felix Fernandez expressed his displeasure over the
\ncomments made by the Catholic priest, and sued the outspoken
\npriest.<\/p>\n
A court later sentenced the priest to two months' imprisonment
\nand five months' probation.<\/p>\n
His supporters, however, were angered by the verdict, and went
\non a rampage, setting fire to the state buildings.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/five-tried-for-burning-courthouse-in-flores-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}