Man gets nine years for Bandung bombing<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): The Bandung District Court handed down on
\nThursday a nine-year jail term to 23-year-old Agus Kurniawan for
\nhis role in a bomb blast in Bandung which killed four people last
\nChristmas Eve.<\/p>\n
\"The defendant has been found guilty of illegally possessing,
\nkeeping and using explosives, which violates Paragraph 1, Article
\n1 of Emergency Law No. 12\/1951 and Paragraph 1, Article 55 of the
\nIndonesian Criminal Code,\" presiding judge Hazli Saleh said. \"The
\noffenses are subject to the death penalty.\"<\/p>\n
The defendant, dressed in black, broke out in sobs when the
\nverdict was read, while his mother and sisters, also wearing
\nblack, burst into tears as the judge read the verdict.<\/p>\n
The nine-year jail term was six years lighter than what the
\nprosecutors were seeking. Six months were reduced from the jail
\nterm for time the defendant had served in detention.<\/p>\n
According to the judge, Agus was aware of the plan to bomb a
\nchurch in Bandung on Christmas Eve. The bomb, however,
\naccidentally exploded at a house on Jl. Antapani owned by Aceng
\nSuhari, who was tried hours earlier in the same courtroom.<\/p>\n
The judge said Agus worked with Roni Miliar, 21, who survived
\nthe blast, and Wawan, who was killed in the blast.<\/p>\n
\"According to witnesses, Agus had gone frequently to the house
\nwith Roni since Dec. 18, and was at the scene of the accident
\nwhen the bomb exploded on Dec. 24. Agus earlier admitted that he,
\nRoni and Wawan were each paid Rp 50,000 by a man named Akim (who
\nwas killed in the blast) to scout three churches on Jl. Gatot
\nSubroto, Jl. Achmad Yani and Jl. Diponegoro on Dec. 23 and 24,
\n2000,\" the judge said.<\/p>\n
A state prosecutor, Samiun Yahya, earlier asked the Bandung
\nDistrict Court to sentence Roni to 15 years in prison for his
\npart in the incident.<\/p>\n
Police believe the Bandung bombing is linked with blasts at
\nchurches in other towns on Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n
\"An aggravating factor is that the defendant has denied all
\ninvolvement and refused to discuss what he knows of the bombing
\nplan. He has shown no feelings of remorse,\" said judge Hazli.<\/p>\n
After meeting with his lawyers, Agus said he would appeal the
\nverdict.<\/p>\n
Several hours earlier, Aceng Suhari was tried in the same
\ncourtroom.<\/p>\n
State prosecutor Azizul Hakim asked the court, presided over
\nalso by judge Hazli Saleh, to sentence Aceng, 57, to five years
\nin prison for his involvement in the bombing.<\/p>\n
According to the prosecutor, the fact that the bomb exploded
\nin a house owned by Aceng on Jl. Antapani was proof that the
\ndefendant was involved in the bombing plan.<\/p>\n
The trial was adjourned until July 5.<\/p>\n
The trial of another defendant in the Bandung bombing case,
\nIqbal, 40, was adjourned on Thursday because the prosecutor was
\nnot ready to present his sentencing demand. (25\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/man-gets-nine-years-for-bandung-bombing-1447893297",
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