Basri Sangaji's murderers get nine years in prison
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.