U.S. court jails Indonesian captain<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An Indonesian ship's captain has been sentenced
\nto four years imprisonment by an American court for attempting to
\nsmuggle 290 Chinese into the United States.<\/p>\n
The Brooklyn District Court convicted Amir Humuntal Lumban
\nTobing, former captain of the Singapore registered Golden
\nVenture, for his role in the attempted smuggling.<\/p>\n
The Antara news agency quoted yesterday an official of the
\nIndonesian consulate general in New York as saying the sentencing
\ntook place on July 13.<\/p>\n
The jail term handed down by Judge Reena Raggi exceeded the
\nso-called \"sentencing guidelines\". It is one of stiffest
\npunishments given to the 20 people convicted in the Golden
\nVenture case.<\/p>\n
The smuggling attempt came to light when the ship sank off New
\nYork in June last year, forcing the Chinese passengers to swim
\nashore or seek help from passing ships. Ten of them never made
\nit.<\/p>\n
The stiffest jail term was meted out to San Lwin, a
\nMyanmarese, who was the ship's chief officer. He was given a
\nfour-and-half year sentence. Six other defendants, all of Chinese
\nnationality, were given jail sentences of either three or four
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Four Indonesian members of the crew were given a six month
\njail term each. They have already been released.<\/p>\n
Koko Wijanarko, the chief consul at the consulate, told Antara
\nthat Tobing, through his lawyer, will appeal the sentence.<\/p>\n
Wijanarko said he had expected a lighter term for the
\nIndonesian captain since he was very cooperative and lent a hand
\nin sending the other crew members to jail by testifying against
\nthem.<\/p>\n
During his own trial, Tobing had pleaded for leniency and
\nshown remorse for the incident.<\/p>\n
The judge thought otherwise and decided to go for a stiffer
\npunishment, saying that Tobing knowingly became involved in the
\nconspiracy to smuggle the Chinese illegal immigrants. Thus he was
\nconsidered responsible for some of the crucial decisions, such as
\nwhen the ship loaded the passengers, first in Thailand, and again
\nin Mombassa before it crossed the Atlantic.<\/p>\n
As the ship's captain, Tobing should have known that the
\nvessel was too small and poorly equipped for passengers.<\/p>\n
Wijanarko was of the opinion that the major reason the judge
\nopted to hand down such heavy punishment was to send a message to
\nother potential offenders.<\/p>\n
\"The judge in principle wanted to convey the message that the
\nU.S. government will prosecute and punish heavily anyone who
\nsmuggles people or aids the smugglers,\" said Wijanarko, who
\nfollowed the trial closely. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-court-jails-indonesian-captain-1447893297",
"image": ""
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