Harsh sentence for alleged rapists

Harsh sentence for alleged rapists

JAKARTA (JP): Relatives of the 11 defendants being tried for a gang rape and robbery in Bekasi became outraged and hurled shoes at the prosecutors when the lawyers demanded the court sentence the defendants to 16 years imprisonment.

The defendants' relatives threw black shoes at Prosecutors T Baringin Ujung and Novimar Ali as they left the courtroom on Thursday. Everything was under control when the head of Bekasi Prosecutors' Office, Chairuman Harahap, arrived at the court.

The defendants are aged between 17 and 23 years old and most are unemployed. They were tried in three separate trials at the Bekasi District Court.

T Baring Udjung was the lead prosecutor in the trial of Bonen, Mamat and Deddy Setiawan. Prosecutor Oemar Tohir took the trial of Iwan Rejeki, Muhamad Ali, Taman and Supriatna. Matali, Indra Wijayadi, Aris Haryadi and Jamal were at another session with Prosecutor R. Purba.

The prosecutors asked the court to jail the defendants, except Taman and Supriatna who were proven only to have accompanied the group, to 16 years for the robbery and rape.

According to the prosecutors, the nine defendants were proven guilty of raping a mother and her two daughters and stealing their jewelry in July last year.

The rape took place in Cimatis, Bekasi, some 30 km southeast of the city. (sur)