Maj. Bayu faces four years imprisonment for Aceh killings<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A military prosecutor demanded on Sunday that a
\ncourt martial in the Aceh capital of Banda Aceh imprison a former
\nbattalion commander to four years prison and dismiss him from the
\nArmed Forces.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor said that Maj. Bayu Najib, of North Aceh
\nBattalion 113 Jaya Sakti, was guilty of battery that led to the
\ndeaths of four Acehnese detainees on Jan. 9, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
In the second day of a speedy military trial which began
\nSaturday, prosecutor S. Elgin charged Bayu with Article 170 of
\nthe Criminal Code, which has a maximum penalty of 12 years.<\/p>\n
The three-member panel of judges presided over by Col. Sri Umi
\nSularsih is scheduled to reach a verdict on Monday, apparently to
\nmeet the Armed Forces' (ABRI) promise to solve the case before
\nIdul Fitri celebrations on Tuesday and Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Bayu was accompanied on Sunday by his lawyer, J. Silaban.<\/p>\n
In the 20-page dossier, Elgin argued that there was enough
\nevidence to prove to the court that the Army officer was guilty
\nof the crimes he was charged with.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor quoted supporting testimonies from three of
\nBayu's alleged accomplices -- Capt. Junaedi, Capt. Muryanto and
\nSec. Cpl. Ryon Bejo -- who admitted to killing the four detainees
\nwith a piece of electrical cable.<\/p>\n
On the night of Jan. 9, police locked 38 people in the KNPI
\nbuilding in the North Aceh capital of Lhokseumawe, and four of
\nthese detainees were killed. They were M. Daud (18), Hermansyah
\nHusein (27), Saifuddin Ibrahim (20) and Hamzah Muhammad (33).<\/p>\n
Several other detainees were injured.<\/p>\n
The detainees were taken from a village that the military
\nalleges to be the home of people involved in the killing of seven
\nsoldiers late last year in Lhok Nibong village, East Aceh. The
\nwhereabouts of one more soldier kidnapped is still unknown.<\/p>\n
The news agency reported Bayu to have shown some remorse.<\/p>\n
When questioned by Judge Sularsi, Bayu replied in a low voice
\nthat he understood the charges against him.<\/p>\n
The court's viewing gallery was reportedly almost empty.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Yacob Hamzah, of the Iskandar Muda Legal Aid Institute,
\nwas unimpressed by the proposed prison term.<\/p>\n
\"For these killings, the sentence is too light ... I am very
\ndisappointed. The sentence in this instance is two-thirds lighter
\nthan usual, which will mean only about two years,\" Yacob said.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, the first trial saw four other soldiers accused
\nof violence in the same incident: Privates Amsir, Ukim Harahap,
\nEfendi and Marolaum Situmorang.<\/p>\n
The brutality against the detainees occurred as the people of
\nAceh were recovering from the antiseparitist military operations
\nbegun in 1989 and officially lifted last August.<\/p>\n
The defendants are among 27 the military plans to court-
\nmartial for the four deaths in the industrial town of
\nLhokseumawe.<\/p>\n
Trials of the 22 others are scheduled to start after the Idul
\nFitri holiday. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maj-bayu-faces-four-years-imprisonment-for-aceh-killings-1447893297",
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