Prosecutor seeks three years for antigraft activist Farid<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The prosecution asked an Aceh court on Thursday to sentence
\nantigraft activist Farid Faqih to three years in prison for
\nstealing donations for tsunami victims in Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"The defendant was found to have stolen the items, hampering
\nthe distribution of aid for tsunami victims,\" said prosecutor Ali
\nAkbar.<\/p>\n
The crime carries a maximum sentence of seven years, but the
\nprosecution asked for a much lighter sentence because Farid has
\nnever been jailed before and has cooperated during the trial.<\/p>\n
The trial was adjourned until next week, at which time the
\ncourt will hear from the defense.<\/p>\n
Farid wore his usual Muslim cap and clothing during the
\nsession on Thursday. He was accompanied by two layers, Rufriadi
\nand Iqbal Farabi.<\/p>\n
Emerging from the courtroom, Farid told journalists he did not
\nunderstand the sentencing demand. \"I believe the demand has
\nsomething to do with politics,\" said Farid as quoted by
\ndetik.com.<\/p>\n
The case surfaced at the end of January, about a month after a
\ntsunami hit Aceh killing some 129,000 people. Farid, the
\ncoordinator of Government Watch, was arrested after allegedly
\nloading donated food, medicine and computer equipment onto a
\ntruck at a Banda Aceh airport.<\/p>\n
The donations were from the military officers' wives
\nassociation. A military officer, Capt. Suaib, accosted Farid and
\naccused him of stealing the aid. The officer also physically
\nassaulted the Government Watch coordinator.<\/p>\n
Farid was arrested and charged with theft. However, he claims
\nthat he was moving the donations to a warehouse outside Banda
\nAceh to prevent them from being damaged by the rain.<\/p>\n
Capt. Suaib is serving a three-month jail sentence for
\nassaulting Farid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prosecutor-seeks-three-years-for-antigraft-activist-farid-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}