20 years sought for rector's killer

20 years sought for rector's killer

Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam

Prosecutors urged 20 years imprisonment on Tuesday for Mahyiddin
alias Raja Preman, 26, for his alleged role in murdering the
rector of Syiah Kuala University (Unsyiah), Dayan Dawood, in
2001.

"There are absolutely no extenuating circumstance in this case
as the murdered victim was a prominent figure in the world of
Acehnese education," prosecutor Muhammad Adnan told the Banda
Aceh District Court.

He said Mahyiddin and his alleged accomplice, Raja Fadh, had
shot dead Dayan Dawood on Sept. 6, 2001, on Jl. T Nyak Arief,
some three kilometers the Syiah Kuala University.

The murder had been plotted several days before at a house in
Banda Aceh, said Adnan.

"The shooting was carried out because Dayan Dawood refused to
pay 10 percent of the university building fund to GAM (the Free
Aceh Movement). GAM consequently ordered Mahyiddin and Raja Fadh
to kill Dayan Dawood," Adnan added.

At the time of the murder, Mahyiddin rode the motorcycle,
while Raja Fadh, the pillion passenger, fired shots at Dayan's
car. The victim died from two gunshot wounds to the chest and
head.

Mahyiddin was captured on June 29, 2002, in a raid in Banda
Aceh, in which he was shot in the leg by police. However, Raja
Fahd was shot dead as police attempted to arrest him.

Mahyiddin is charged with violating Article 340 and 388 of the
Criminal Code on murder and the possession of illegal weapons.

Imam Syafiie, a lawyer for the suspect, rejected the
sentencing recommendation as being "too heavy" for his client.

"Mahyiddin's has been permanently disabled in the leg, and
this is a very severe burden for him to bear," Imam told The
Jakarta Post.

Mahyiddin said that his fate was in the hands of the court. "I
was just ordered by Raja Fahd and I didn't even know that the
target was to be the rector," he said.

The trial was adjourned until March 23 to hear defense pleas
from the defendant.