Bojong suspects may get 6 months in jail

BOGOR: Prosecutors have demanded sentences of between four and six months in prison for 15 residents accused of destroying property belonging to PT Wira Guna Sejahtera, operator of the Bojong waste treatment plant, in a violent protest against the dump last Nov. 22.

Prosecutor Hendra told the hearing on Monday at Cibinong District Court that their was strong evidence and witnesses against accused Nenin Onan and seven others who were charged with burning eight cars and two motorcycles during the protest.

If found guilty, the eight face up to six months in jail for the crime. "They have inflicted losses of Rp 8 billion (US$860,000) upon PT Wira Guna Sejahtera."

In a separate hearing for the cases of Galuh Rasimin and six other residents, the prosecutors also demanded six months in prison for six accused, and four months in prison for Rohim Suminta, who is a high school student.

During the November disturbance police shot at hundreds of protesting residents and injured at least six people. The trigger-happy police have since been given "administrative sanctions".

Eighteen people have been brought to trial for allegedly provoking the destruction of the dump.

"I'm disappointed with the prosecutor's demand, because almost all of the witnesses told the court that they didn't see the accused at the site during the clashes ... they were still at their work places at that time. They have withdrawn their earlier statements to the police that they said were made under physical duress," lawyer Leonard Sitompul said after the trial. -- JP