Navy chief wants death formarine hit men in Asaba case<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Although the trial of four marines who were allegedly involved in
\nthe murder of PT Asaba computer firm president director Budiarto
\nAngsono has not yet begun, Indonesian Navy chief of staff Adm.
\nBernard Kent Sondakh is pushing for the maximum sentence for
\nthem.<\/p>\n
Bernard said on Thursday that the four Navy servicemen
\ndeserved the harshest punishment possible as they had tarnished
\nthe image of the military.<\/p>\n
\"The shooter must be sentenced to death, and the rest should
\nget a life sentence each,\" Bernard said after attending the
\nceremony to present medals of honor to distinguished citizens at
\nthe State Palace.<\/p>\n
Overlooking the possibility that his statement could
\njeopardize a fair trial, Bernard said he just could not tolerate
\nsuch a crime committed by soldiers.<\/p>\n
\"They should receive the maximum sentence for disgracing the
\nNavy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Navy's internal affairs investigators have just completed
\ntheir probe into the alleged assassination-for-hire, charging the
\nfour active officers with premeditated murder, which carries a
\nmaximum sentence of death.<\/p>\n
Bernard has already apologized to the public about the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
There has been no decision whether the suspects will be court-
\nmartialled or stand trial at a joint military-civilian court as
\nthe police have not yet arrested Gunawan, the businessman and
\nformer son-in-law of Budiarto who allegedly ordered the killing.<\/p>\n
According to Indonesian law, a case involving both military
\npersonnel and civilians will be heard by a joint military-
\ncivilian court.<\/p>\n
Bernard said the Navy had banned its members from taking side
\njobs and asserted that he would punish all those who violated the
\nrule.<\/p>\n
\"Soldiers who have side jobs, including as bodyguards, will
\nreceive administrative sanctions from their direct commander,\"
\nBernard said.<\/p>\n
\"Those who are proven to be involved in crimes will be
\ndishonorably discharged.\"<\/p>\n
Moonlighting among the Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel is
\nvery common as the military budget is only partially covered by
\nthe state, and salaries are often relatively low.<\/p>\n
Serving as bodyguards or providing other security services are
\nvery common side jobs for soldiers.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/navy-chief-wants-death-formarine-hit-men-in-asaba-case-1447893297",
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