Prosecutors surprise many<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Prosecutors in North Jakarta have, surprisingly,
\nsought a prison sentence of only one year for a 26-year-old man
\naccused of smuggling three guns, 162 bullets, a BMW sedan, three
\nmotorcycles, a bow and arrows and four telephone sets from the
\nUnited States.<\/p>\n
The jail term sought comes as a surprise because Indonesian
\nlaw requires a convicted gun smuggler to be sentenced to 20 years
\nto life, or receive the death penalty, as stipulated in Article 1
\nof Emergency Law No. 12, 1951.<\/p>\n
\"I have no further comment on the case,\" City Police spokesman
\nLt. Col. Bambang Haryoko told The Jakarta Post yesterday, when
\nasked about the case.<\/p>\n
\"What the police can do -- as required by law -- is just bring
\nthe case to court,\" he said. \"Whatever the outcome of the case,
\nit's no longer our responsibility.\"<\/p>\n
Any decisions made by the judges will never obstruct police
\nwork, fighting crime in Jakarta, he added.<\/p>\n
During the trial, at the local district court on Thursday,
\nprosecutors Haruddin and Yuswa Kusumah said in their indictment,
\nthat the defendant, identified as HW, should also pay a fine of
\nRp 10 million (US$4,450).<\/p>\n
For the last several years HW has been studying computer
\nsciences in Los Angeles on a scholarship. He returned home last
\nyear, bringing his personal belongings with him.<\/p>\n
To make transportation easier, his BMW sedan was disassembled
\nand put into a container, along with the guns, motorcycles, bow
\nand arrows and his other personal items.<\/p>\n
The container, number HDMU-4140018, was then shipped from Long
\nBeach seaport on the vessel Hyundai Federal Voy 002, in July
\n1994. The ship arrived at Tanjung Priok port the next month.<\/p>\n
HW stated on the bill of lading that the container held
\nhousehold goods, such as kitchen utensils, clothes, a television
\nset, cameras and computer sets.<\/p>\n
Custom officers at the Jakarta port found items contrary to
\nthe document inside the container.<\/p>\n
Two of the guns were .22 caliber rifles, of Savage and Ruger
\nmake. The other firearm was a ERMA\/EXAM, model RX, .22 caliber.<\/p>\n
During police investigations, HW denied the possession of the
\nguns.<\/p>\n
Disregarding the existing Emergency Law, the prosecutors only
\naccused HW of smuggling goods into Indonesian without the proper
\nlegal documents.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Soemarjono told the court that the panel of
\njudges will announce their decision during the next trial
\nsession, on May 2. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prosecutors-surprise-many-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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