Father gets 2.5 years for unlawful sex

YOGYAKARTA: The Yogyakarta District Court sentenced on Monday a 25-year-old father of two, Chandra Triwibowo, to five-and-a- half years in jail for being guilty of having sexual intercourse with an underage girl.

The 14-year old girl, Utami -- who is his wife's cousin -- became pregnant as a result.

Prosecutors had earlier sought a six-year term for the defendant, who hails from Jogonalan village in Bantul regency, Yogyakarta.

Chandra told the court during a previous hearing that he began his relationship with Utami, whose house is beside his, in March 2000.

"The relationship was based on mutual consent. And when I found out that she was two months pregnant in November 2000, I told her parents that I would marry her," he said.

Utami's mother, who is also an aunt of Chandra's wife, refused to accept his offer, however, and reported the affair to the local police. --JP