'Floating trial' prepared for criminal offenders in Maluku<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Civil emergency administrator Maluku
\nGovernor Saleh Latuconsina said his office was preparing a
\n\"floating trial\" for criminal offenders in the conflicts which
\nhave ravaged the islands.<\/p>\n
The trials would be held on board a Naval battleship or
\ncivilian vessel guarded by the security forces in a bid to speed
\nup the law enforcement process in Maluku, Latuconsina told
\njournalists here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The ship will be anchored off the Teluk Ambon Baguala waters.<\/p>\n
The trial, however, was still awaiting a further deployment of
\nlaw enforcers from Jakarta, including judges, police
\ninvestigators and prosecutors, the governor said.<\/p>\n
\"We don't have enough officials to handle the many cases,\" he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
According to the governor, the trial cannot be held at Ambon
\nDistrict Court as the venue is located in a restive border area
\nbetween two warring camps on Jl. Sultan Airun in Pos Kota
\nsubdistrict.<\/p>\n
\"Psychologically, it would be very hard for the judges, the
\nprosecutors and related parties to hold a fair session in a
\ncourtroom that is not free from fear, tension and possible
\ndispute.<\/p>\n
\"A floating trial is the best option. At least the possibility
\nof riots is far less at sea than on land,\" he added.<\/p>\n
According to the Maluku High Court, there are over 200 cases
\nfrom this year that are ready to go on trial while hundreds more
\nare still being processed, involving both civilians and security
\npersonnel.<\/p>\n
The cases mostly deal with criminal cases attached to unrest
\nsuch as murder, illegal possession of weapons, burglary, looting
\nas well as assault and battery.<\/p>\n
Those currently being detained are in prisons in Piru district
\nin the western part of Seram island, Saparua and Bandanaira on
\nBanda island.<\/p>\n
Muslim prisoners are pooled in Bandanaira while Christians are
\nin Piru and Saparua. All three penitentiaries have about 200
\nprisoners.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot possibly detain them in Ambon because the
\npenitentiary in Negri Lama in Baguala district, 14 kilometers
\neast of Ambon, has been gutted by fire,\" the governor said.<\/p>\n
In another development, a total of 650 personnel from the
\n405th Infantry Battalion (Yonif) from the Diponegoro Military
\nCommand were pulled out of Maluku and replaced by the 407th
\nDiponegoro Infantry Batallion on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"From now on, a tight search will be carried out on troops
\nleaving Maluku. We do not want them to carry unnecessary items,
\nsuch as weapons from outside their units or probably looted goods
\nfrom the conflicting regions,\" Pattimura Military Commander Brig.
\nGen. I Made Yasa said.<\/p>\n
\"If they fail to show proper documents relating to such
\nbelongings, they will be detained and prosecuted by Ambon
\nmilitary police. This is part of the effort to improve the
\nIndonesian Military's tarnished image in Maluku,\" Yasa said.
\n(49\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/floating-trial-prepared-for-criminal-offenders-in-maluku-1447893297",
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