Prosecutors demand eight months for soldiers<\/p>\n
Berni K. Moestafa and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh<\/p>\n
Military prosecutors are seeking an eight-month sentence for
\nthree soldiers who allegedly assaulted civilians during a raid in
\nBireuen, Aceh regency, at the end of May.<\/p>\n
The prosecutors' demand followed the three soldiers'
\nconfessions and the testimony of victims delivered on Wednesday
\nat the military tribunal in Lhokseumawe.<\/p>\n
"The soldiers are guilty of the charges," said military
\nprosecutor Capt. Baharuddin Siregar during the court session
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
First Pvt. Syaiful Bahri, 29, Second Pvt. Tony Narianto, 22,
\nand Second Pvt. Agus Hidayat, 24, were accused of physically
\nabusing five residents of Lawang village, Peudada District,
\nBireuen regency in a raid against members of the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM), and thereby not acting in accordance with the
\nrules of military discipline.<\/p>\n
Four other soldiers, including a middle-ranking officer, are
\nstill awaiting trial at the military tribunal.<\/p>\n
During the raid, the soldiers also killed Abu Bakar, a
\nresident, whom they claimed to be a member of GAM as they had
\nfound a bundle of identity cards belonging to villagers in his
\nhouse.<\/p>\n
Abu Bakar's widow Aisyah said to reporters that her husband
\nwas killed by soldiers, who dragged him out of the house, beat
\nhim and then shot him.<\/p>\n
One of the seven suspects, (First Private) Alfian, however,
\ntold the court on Wednesday that Abu Bakar was a rebel and he was
\nshot while trying to escape.<\/p>\n
Witnesses identified the three soldiers behind the beating of
\nLawang villagers during an early-morning raid for GAM members on
\nMay 27. The victims, three of whom appeared before the court on
\nWednesday, suffered bruises on their faces and bodies.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors charged the soldiers with violating Articles 251
\nand 55 of the Criminal Code on the torture of civilians, as well
\nas Article 103 of the Military Criminal Code for neglecting
\nmilitary discipline.<\/p>\n
The charges carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison.<\/p>\n
However, prosecutors demanded eight months for Syaiful and
\nAgus, and eight months and 20 days for Toni, who allegedly
\nassaulted three civilians.<\/p>\n
Baharuddin said that the prosecution was reducing the charges
\nbecause the soldiers were relatively young, were polite in court
\nand because they were serving their duty in Aceh.<\/p>\n
But he added that the three had tarnished the image of the
\nIndonesian Military, caused suffering to others, took the law
\ninto their own hands and violated the Saptamarga principles
\nunder the military code of ethics.<\/p>\n
"These considerations were heavily weighing upon the severity
\nof their charges," said Baharuddin.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prosecutors-demand-eight-months-for-soldiers-1447893297",
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