Aceh activist freed of charges

Aceh activist freed of charges

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: The Banda Aceh District Court freed Kautsar, 23, chairman of the Democratic Front for Acehnese People (FPDRA), of all charges laid against him.

Anwar Rasat, who presided over the panel of judges, said the judges rejected the prosecutor's charges because there was no evidence that the suspect had sown resentment against the government and there were no witnesses who testified against him during the trial.

In the previous court session, prosecutor Superty Syukur had sought a two-year jail sentence for the defendant because he had circulated leaflets calling on the Acehnese people not pay tax to the government.

Kautsar is the son of Muhammad Yunus, chairman of the Aceh Provincial legislative council.

"No witnesses saw the defendant circulating the antigovernment leaflets," Anwar said. --Antara