13 soldiers court martialled

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Thirteen soldiers appeared in a military tribunal on Thursday in connection with the destruction of a house belonging to a military police officer last August.

The soldiers were all members of the Satya Wira Territory 742 infantry battalion based in Mataram, Antara reported.

They were accused of wrecking the house. It is believed the act was in retaliation of one their colleagues allegedly being beaten by the local military police unit during an investigation.

The military prosecutors said there were 31 soldiers who took part in the raid. The other 18 defendants had been given permission from the tribunal not to attend the hearing because they were on duty. (emb)