Journo's attacker to be punished

DILI, East Java: Prosecution yesterday demanded eight months imprisonment for Liban Cavin Soares, 15, for allegedly beating Tiras magazine reporter Gaudensius Mau last year.

Antara reported that prosecutor Eko Purwanto at the Dili District Court said that Soares had, with the help of other people, committed the violence. The court session was presided over by SJ Maramis.

Soares' lawyer Perry Wilson said the punishment was too harsh for his client who had only "joined in" the violence.

Soares was the last of five defendants in the case; the other four had been sentenced to 10 months each last month.

The incident happened on the night of Nov. 17 last year when the three assaulted Gaudensius after mistaking him for a police informant.

The culprits attacked Gaudensius near the Virgin Mary park after someone spotted him and shouted "informant", the verdict said.

The attackers fled after a police patrol passed by. Gaudensius regained consciousness in hospital a day after the attack. (swe)