Alleged rapists may face 10-year penalty

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)