Gunawan stands trial for Asaba case

Gunawan stands trial for Asaba case

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The North Jakarta District Court opened on Wednesday the trial of
Gunawan Santosa, the sole defendant in the murder of the
president director of PT Aneka Sarana Bakti (Asaba), Boedyharto
Angsono, and his bodyguard, Army Special Forces (Kopassus) member
Second Sgt. Edi Siyep.

Prosecutor Andi Herman charged the defendant with committing
and ordering premeditated murder under Article 340 of the
Criminal Code. The article carries the maximum death penalty.

He has also been charged under Article 338 for manslaughter,
which carries a maximum jail sentence of 15 years.

The prosecution accused Gunawan of arranging the contract
killing of Boedyharto, the father of his ex-wife, in July last
year in the parking lot of the Sasana Krida Sports Stadium in
Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

Last June, Gunawan was convicted of embezzlement after
financial inconsistencies involving Rp 40 billion (US$4.7
million) were noticed by PT Asaba finance director Paulus
Tejakusuma.

Gunawan escaped from the Kuningan penitentiary in Cirebon,
West Java, before completing his 28-month prison term.

After his escape, Paulus was wounded by gunshot on Jl.
Angkasa, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

According to prosecutors, it was during his escape, that
Gunawan hired four marines to assassinate Boedyharto.

The police arrested Gunawan last September at a rented
apartment in Gunung Sahari, Central Jakarta. He had undergone
plastic surgery to disguise his facial features, and carried
three different identity cards.

Presiding judge I Wayan Padang Pudjawan adjourned the trial
until Feb. 18.