Laskar Jihad members facing possible six years in prison<\/p>\n
Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya.<\/p>\n
Suspected of involvement in the recent riots in Ngawi, East
\nJava, 102 Laskar Jihad members face possible six-year prison
\nsentences, local police said.<\/p>\n
East Java Police Spokesman Sad Harunantyo told The Jakarta
\nPost on Thursday that, after interrogation in police precincts
\nthroughout the province, the suspects confessed to taking part in
\nthe unrest, acts violating Chapter 169 of the Criminal Code.<\/p>\n
The Jihad members were arrested for sweeping, or forcibly
\ndisrupting, gambling activities in this small town, near the
\nborder between Central Java and East Java, last weekend.<\/p>\n
These attacks have been linked to the kidnapping of Chairman
\nof the local chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan), Yuwono Susatyo, who is still missing.<\/p>\n
Harunantyo said some of the suspects in custody also face an
\naddtional five-year, six-month jail sentence for the illegal
\npossession of guns and explosives.<\/p>\n
During the arrest, police officials managed to confiscate 40
\nmolotov cocktail explosives (bottles filled with gasoline),
\nmachetes, double sticks and dozens of firearms.<\/p>\n
He said police were still reviewing the suspects' dossiers
\nbefore handing them over to the local government prosecutor.<\/p>\n
\"One important thing is that the police carry out the
\ninvestigation transparently,\" he said, citing four other suspects
\nbelieved to be supporters of the PDI Perjuangan in Ngawi.<\/p>\n
Asked about Yuwono's whereabouts, Harunantyo said the police
\nwere continuing in their investigation. \"The police will continue
\nto work hard to search for Yuwono,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Ngawi chapter of PDI Perjuangan has announced this
\nSaturday as the deadline for the police to recover Yuwono -- dead
\nor alive.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Susilo Muslim, commandant of the PDI Perjuangan's
\ncivilian guard force in Ngawi, claimed to have found four places
\nin the area where Yuwono was likely held.<\/p>\n
\"But we are waiting for the police's search work,\" said
\nSusilo; he declined to identify the locations.<\/p>\n
Susilo said the local chapter of the PDI Perjuangan's civilian
\nguard force would not seek vengeance against local Muslim
\norganizations for Yuwono's abduction.<\/p>\n
\"We have no intentions or any plan to do so,\" he said,
\n\"because the abduction was conducted likely by certain sides who
\nwant to bring PDI Perjuangan and Muslim people to a physical
\nconfrontation.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/laskar-jihad-members-facing-possible-six-years-in-prison-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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