Bojong residents sentenced for roles in riot
Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor
The Cibinong District Court pronounced on Monday the sentences of 17 residents of Bojong village, Bogor, West Java, to the cheers of the defendants' families and neighbors as they received shorter prison terms than demanded by the prosecution.
The defendants, who were tried in three separate courtrooms, received sentences ranging from a suspended sentence to eight months in prison for their roles in damaging Rp 8 billion (US$ 865,000) worth of equipment belonging to the operator of a dump in the neighborhood on Nov. 22 of last year.
The defendants were part of a group of residents who were protesting the operation of the dump, which they said was harmful to the environment and their neighborhood.
Rohim Suminta came away with the lightest sentence, a suspended sentence of four months, served only if he commits another crime in the next eight months. The panel of judges cited Rohim's status as a senior in a vocational high school as the mitigating circumstance.
Eight of the defendants -- Nenin Oman, Nazarudin, Edi Ejan, Dede Suparman, Akbar Yanto, Ejan Nasa, Adang Hermawan and Iskandar, were sentenced to three months and 15 days in prison, short of the six months demanded by prosecutors.
"Taking into account the time you have served, you will be free on Sunday," said presiding judge MS Adam.
Six other defendants -- Galuh Rasimin, Mirga Umin, Ata Naing, Ace Soma, Anan Aja and Dayat Supriyadi, were sentenced to five months, from which the time they have spent in detention since their arrest on Nov. 23 will be deducted.
The other two defendants, Taing Isa and Aming Gunawan, were sentenced to eight months minus time served.
All 17 defendants were found guilty of violating Article 170 of the Criminal Code on causing collective damage to property. The article carries a maximum sentence of five and a half years in prison.
The court has yet to rule on Atang Ombak, who is charged with instigating the riot.
The protest marked the peak of locals' strong opposition to the presence of dump, which has the capacity to absorb 2,000 tons of Jakarta's 6,000 tons of daily waste and 400 tons of Bogor's daily waste.
Last December, 14 police officers have been found guilty of using unnecessary disciplinary methods to restore order during the riot, while two others were declared guilty of violating the Criminal Code, for causing serious injuries to several residents.
The police disciplinary committee also declared eight members of the police's Mobile Brigade guilty of using excessive methods to restore order.