Eng San gets 17 years for his role in murder

Eng San gets 17 years for his role in murder

JAKARTA (JP): Hasan, alias Eng San, a businessman, was
sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment by the North Jakarta District
Court yesterday for persuading other people to kill Nyo Beng
Seng, his rival, two years ago.

Presiding Judge Bhaedowie said Eng San, 40, was found guilty
of violating Article 55 of the Criminal Code, which carries a
maximum life sentence.

The sentence was three years higher than what prosecutor Andhi
Nirwanto had demanded two weeks ago.

Bhaedowie said Eng San had worsened his own case by faking an
illness, which had hampered the hearings. Eng San was brought to
court in January this year and trials were frequently delayed.

"Medical examinations revealed that the defendant was
completely healthy," the judge said.

"The defendant also had the heart to induce others to kill his
own friend," Bhaedowie said. He also said Eng San had been jailed
before for gambling.

The others involved with the killing were Agiono, Atok and
Tjen Piu.

The same court sentenced the first two men in August last year
as accomplices in the crime.

Agiono and Atok are now serving 20-year and 15-year prison
terms respectively. Tjen Piu got nine years' imprisonment last
October for escorting the two men to Nyo Beng Seng's mansion in
Sunter, North Jakarta.

The prosecution said one motivation behind the murder was
because Eng San had owed the victim US$3.2 million. The money was
part of funds needed to set up a casino in Cambodia by Eng San
and Nyo Beng Seng.

After the verdict Eng San's lawyers -- Soedjono, Teguh Samudra
and Harjono Tjitrosoebono, who heads the Indonesian Bar
Association, Ikadin -- said they would appeal to the Jakarta High
Court.

State prosecutor Andhi Nirwanto refused to comment.

Last week in his defense, Eng San had said the trial was
designed to implicate him deeper despite the involvement of two
other people in the crime. He was referring to businessmen who he
said were Nyo Beng Seng's competitors.

Eng San also said he was once told by a certain prosecutor to
escape but he refused, only to find himself thrown behind bars.

Yesterday Eng San, who wore a black outfit, looked uneasy. He
glanced back to the audience several times but smiled when
cameras flashed.

The courtroom was packed with spectators, including the
defendant's family and friends. Several yelled "injustice" right
after Bhaedowie finished reading the verdict.

After the session, Eng San looked more relaxed. He said the
punishment was not a surprise to him, because he had heard about
it long before the hearing began.

After the trial, lawyer Soedjono said he had heard that many
people had wagered on the verdict.

Judge Bhaedowie had earlier asked the prosecutor and lawyers
to bring in three other witnesses -- Eng San's business partners,
Hong Lie, A Gun and Kiki Ariyanto -- who had sent written
testimonies, but failed to show up.

Hong Lie and A Gun were reportedly in Hong Kong, with gambling
businesses in Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Macao. Police had said
earlier the two businessmen were also implicated in the murder
besides Eng San. (12)