Basri Sangaji's murderers get nine years in prison

The Jakarta Post Jakarta

The three main defendants in the murder of gang leader Basri Sangaji were found guilty and sentenced to nine years in prison each by the South Jakarta District Court on Thursday.

Presiding judge Eddy Joenarso said sufficient evidence had been presented that the three defendants murdered Sangaji last October using sharp weapons.

He said Semy Charter Refra, alias Semy Key, 25; Emang Refra, alias Kupas, 24; and Rais Texas, alias Subur, 24, violated articles 338 and 351 of the Criminal Code on murder, as well as Article 2 of Emergency Law No. 12/1951 on the illegal possession of weapons.

Prosecutor Nur Hasan Ridwan had asked that the defendants be sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The three defendants showed no emotion as the judge read out the sentences.

A lawyer for the defendants, Gusti Randa, and the prosecutor said they would decide by the end of next week whether they would appeal the verdict.

Later on Thursday, a panel of judges presided over by Efran Basuni at the South Jakarta District Court found five people guilty in the same case and sentenced them to between 20 months and four years in prison. The five were found to have abetted in the murder of Sangaji.

The stiffest sentence was handed down to Sevanya Rahakbau, alias Lois, who received four years in prison. Erwin Labettubun and Koko Rahawarin each received three years, Rasid Renwarin was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison and Yopi Ingrattubun got 20 months.

The murder was the culmination of years of clashes between a gang of Maluku Muslims led by Sangaji and a group of Maluku Christians allegedly headed by a man identified as John Key. The violence between the two groups was thought by some to be a continuation of the religious conflict that began in the troubled province in 2000.

However, other observers said the two groups were simply involved in the protection racket and were fighting over territory.

On Oct. 12 last year, the three main defendants and several other people entered the victim's room at the Keboyoran Inn in South Jakarta armed with swords and knives.

According to eyewitness accounts heard during court sessions, at least 15 people entered the room and assaulted Sangaji, who at the time was accompanied by two other people. Sangaji died in the assault, while the people with him were seriously injured.

Police arrested eight suspects in the murder and submitted their case files to prosecutors.

The trial was interrupted last month by a brawl between the two groups outside the courtroom that sent several people to the hospital.