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)