Faqih gets one-year's jail for aid theft

ACEH BESAR, ACEH: Antigraft activist Farid Faqih was sentenced to a one-year jail term on Thursday in Aceh Besar for stealing humanitarian aid goods.

Presiding judge Abdul Rosyad said that Farid's action had hampered the humanitarian relief program in the tsunami-hit province.

Farid made news headlines in January when he was beaten by a senior military officer at the Iskandar Muda Military Airport in Blang Blintang, Aceh Besar, after he was caught trying to move aid from the airport compound.

Farid denied stealing the goods, saying he was merely trying to help accelerate the distribution of the goods to the intended targets. -- JP