Death sentence sought for Lilis

BOGOR: A prosecutor asked the Cibinong District Court on Wednesday to sentence to death Benged Siahaan alias Lilis, a transvestite who killed and mutilated his lover Abdul Kadir in the Bogor regency of West Java last June.

At the same trial, which was presided over by Judge Marsudin Nainggolan, the prosecutor also demanded a life sentence for Hero Lamia, who helped Lilis in the premeditated killing.

Lilis killed Abdul Kadir, his lover, out of jealousy and also took Kadir's valuables.

Isrofi, the prosecutor, charged that Lilis and Lamia violated Articles 340 and 338 of the Criminal Code, which carry a maximum sentence of the death penalty.

Upon hearing the prosecutor's demand, Lilis shouted hysterically: "That's because of you. Now I no longer trust human beings. I can only trust animals."

The other suspects, Nursumiyati binti Prawirosumito and Surip alias Jumari bin Rasdan, were both sentenced to four years in prison.

Ropaun Rambe, the lawyer of the four suspects, told The Jakarta Post that he agreed with the sentence demanded by the prosecutor. "But why only Lilis. Both Lilis and Hero Lamia should be sentenced to death," he said.--JP