Alzier gets suspended jail term

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: A panel of judges here handed down on Thursday a suspended sentence of nine months in jail and a one year probation to Lampung governor-elect M. Alzier Dianis Thabranie for committing fraud and falsifying a document before his election three years ago.

A suspended jail term means that Alzier will not have to serve the nine-month sentence unless he commits a crime within the one year probation period.

Presiding judge Gani Parlaungan of Tanjungkarang district court here said that the defendant was found guilty of fraud involving 500 tons of fertilizer worth Rp 502.5 million (US$59117) from state-owned fertilizer firm PT Pusri, and of using an illegal diploma.

The sentence is far less than the prosecutor's demand, who sought a 10-month jail sentence for the defendant.

Armen Yasir, a law observer from Lampung University, lashed out at the verdict, saying that it was too lenient, considering that Alzier had been convicted in a graft case. -- JP