JP/3/BASUKI

JP/3/BASUKI

Basuki's killer gets 15 years

JAKARTA (JP): Amiruddin, alias Nanda, a 23-year-old former
Metromini bus conductor on trial for murdering noted painter
Basuki Abdullah, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a
district court Saturday.

Presiding Judge Moegihardjo of the South Jakarta district
court announced that Amiruddin was found guilty of robbing and
killing the late painter in the early morning of Nov. 5, 1993.

"What implicated the defendant is that his victim is a maestro
of painting, whose reputation is recognized not only locally but
also regionally and even internationally.

"Besides, the defendant is a recidivist, and he showed no
remorse," Moegihardjo said while reading the verdict.

The sentence is five years less than that demanded by
prosecutor Sadjidi, who was substituted for over the weekend by
prosecutor Agus Sutoto.

According to the indictment, Nanda plotted to rob the
painter's house with his three friends: Wahyudi, Abdul Mukti and
Tetap Sembiring. The first two are now being tried separately in
the same court. Sembiring, who disappeared shortly after the
crime, remains at large.

The four planned the robbery at Wahyudi's house on Jl. Langsat
I on the morning of Nov. 4. Wahyudi, who was then Basuki's
gardener, drew the lay-out of the painter's home and later gave
it to Nanda, who executed the plot at midnight.

After striking Basuki down with a rifle belonging to the
painter and pilfering a collection of wristwatches and cash to
the tune of Rp 200,000 (US$95), Nanda returned to Wahyudi's house
on Jl. Langsat where his friends were waiting for him.

On the morning on Nov. 5, Basuki was found dead by one of his
maids, lying flat on the carpeted floor of his private room with
blood oozing from the back of his head.

During earlier hearings, the defendants' lawyers from the
Generasi Muda Indonesia legal aid foundation had pleaded that the
court acquit their clients of all charges because the
prosecutor's allegations were not supported by hard evidence.

The defendants' lawyers said in their statements that all
evidence presented to the court by the prosecutor failed to prove
conclusively that Nanda was indeed the one who committed the
robbery.

The statement said none of the 12 witnesses called by the
prosecutor truly knew what had transpired on the morning of the
murder.

Thus, the defense lawyers claimed that the testimony of all 12
witnesses should be declared null and void.

But Presiding Judge Moegihardjo declared that this analysis
was flawed, as it failed to consider the defendant's confession
before the court.

"When he gave his confession before the court, he was free
from any intimidation or agitation. For this reason, we can use
it as prime evidence, in addition to testimony offered by
witnesses," Moegihardjo stated.

Throughout yesterday's session, Nanda kept his head bent
deferentially to the floor. When asked if he could accept the
verdict, he remained silent and then wept openly.

After consulting with his lawyers, Nanda said he needed more
time to consider whether he would appeal to the high court. (11)