Banjarmasin rioters jailed

BANJARMASIN, S. Kalimantan: A court convicted two men Saturday for their involvement in the May 23 election riot here, Antara reported

Rade'i bin Mutasi, 30, was found guilty of carrying weapons illegally, while Ratiman, 33, who was tried separately, was found guilty of looting a shop during the riot which claimed 123 lives.

Mutasi was sentenced to nine months imprisonment and Ratiman to two and a half months.

The prosecutor had demanded that Ratiman be imprisoned for five months.

During the trial, Ratiman pleaded not guilty, but the judge found him otherwise after hearing the testimonies of two police officers.

Mutasi's sentence was 15 months less than that demanded by the prosecutor, because he pleaded guilty and apologized for his crime.

The court is currently trying 12 other underaged alleged rioters for looting. Their verdicts are scheduled to be announced today. (aan)