Alleged rapists may face 10-year penalty

JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor asked West Jakarta District Court to sentence three young men to jail terms of 10 years each for raping a deaf girl.

Prosecutor Erliana said the defendants, identified as Abdurrahman alias Jangkung, 18, Abdurrahman alias Oman, 18, and Matsani, 21, raped 16-year-old Siti Balqis in a cassava garden on Jl. Kebon Pisang in Jelambar, West Jakarta, on March 16.

Erliana said Jangkung waved at Siti Balqis, who is also known as Anis, when the girl walked passed the men about 6 p.m.

She said Jangkung asked Anis to follow him into the garden, saying that he wanted to talk about something important. Oman and Matsani followed the pair, she said.

Jangkung raped the girl while the other two men held the girl hands and legs, she said. Oman and Matsani then took their turn to rape the girl, she said.

The defendants -- who were tried during different court sessions -- were charged under Article 285 of the Criminal Code.

Jangkung burst into tears yesterday when he heard the prosecutor's submission for a 10-year jail term.

"Don't cry. Just remember when you were in the cassava garden," presiding judge Sumantri said.

The defendants were speechless when Sumantri asked them whether they understood the submission.

Sumantri adjourned the trials until next week to hear the defendants' lawyers submissions. (jun)