Five witnesses testify at UNAS students' trial
Five witnesses testify at UNAS students' trial
JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court heard testimonies from five witnesses in the trial of six of the 12 National University students accused of destroying campus property and assaulting members of the student regiment on Oct. 18 last year.
The five witnesses are, Ibrahim Ansor and Hery Udin, alumnus of the university and former members of the student regiment, and Rachmat Rianda, Saut Maruli and Syaiful Rachmat, members of the Association of Nature Lovers (Himpala).
The witnesses told presiding judge Moegihardjo on Thursday that none of them had actually seen the six defendants, also members of Himpala, assaulting student regiment members or burning the regiment's post.
The six defendants, who were tried on Thursday, are Syech Aljufri, Agus Heryana Anirun, Wahyu Sugito, Kusnadi Darisan, Sudradjat Trisna and Indra Mulia Ismet Kamil, while another six defendants, who are waiting to be tried on March 23, are Yahdi Djamhur, Reza Pahlevi, Darmawan Bahtiar, Rakai Aria Dipa Erlangga, Benedictus Satrio Widyanarto and Budi Murdiyanto.
During the court session, Ibrahim also retracted his earlier testimony, which was given during a police questioning session, which stated that he saw the six defendants burning the regiment's headquarters and assaulting its members.
Both Ibrahim and Hery went to their former campus at 1 p.m. to attend a seminar which was held as part of the activities to celebrate the university's anniversary.
Saut Maruli said the incident was triggered by various past incidents and acts of intimidation carried out by some regiment members.
He also said he had reported the incidents to either the rector's office or the nearest police precinct but no action was taken.
Saut's statement was supported by another witness, Syaiful, who alleged that in August 1993 he was beaten by Mohammad Karim, a member of the regiment, and his friends. But that the Pasar Minggu police precinct never took any action against them.
The trial started at 10 a.m. and ended at 3 p.m. Judge Moegihardjo adjourned the trial until March 21. (mas)