Death sentence against Lt. Sanurip upheld

JAKARTA (JP): The Surabaya High Military Tribunal in East Java has upheld a death sentence against an Army Special Forces officer convicted of killing 16 people in a shooting spree in Timika, Irian Jaya, last year.

The spokesman for Trikora Regional Military Command, Col. Mangatas Pandjaitan, said the tribunal upheld the sentence against Second Lt. Sanurip on June 18.

Antara reported that Sanurip's defense lawyers would appeal to the Supreme Court.

Sanurip was sentenced to death by the Jayapura Military Tribunal on April 23. He was found guilty of killing 16 people and injuring 10 others in a shooting spree at Timika Airport last year.

The incident took place on the morning of April 15 last year after Sanurip became involved in a dispute with a fellow officer. Sanurip reportedly grabbed a machine gun and sprayed soldiers and civilian workers with bullets.

Sanurip was also given a dishonorable discharge with all previous citations awarded to him removed.

During the trial, Sanurip's lawyers claimed that the defendant suffered from severe stress after spending months in the Irian Jaya jungle.

Reports said Sanurip was infected with malaria. (05)