JP/5/larantu
Five tried for burning state buildings in Flores
Yemris Fointuna The Jakarta Post Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara
Trials began on Thursday for five suspects in last year's attack on a court building and prosecutor's office on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara.
The defendants were tried separately at the Kupang District Court amid tight security as the first day of the trial attracted many observers.
The five were among 12 suspects being detained by prosecutors at Penfui Prison in the East Nusa Tenggara capital of Kupang.
The trial of three of the five defendants -- Marthinus Mangu, 52, John Ricardo, 29, alias Iwan and Rafael Sinung Jaya Lamanepa, 36, -- was presided over by Judge I Gusti Made Antara accompanied by judges Mion Ginting and Karlen Parhusip.
Prosecutor Samuel Say said the three defendants were charged with jointly attacking a courthouse on Nov. 15, shortly after a judge handed down the verdict of guilty for local Catholic leader and priest Father Frans Amanuen in a defamation case filed by East Flores Regent Felix Fernandes.
The suspects were also accused of setting fire to the Larantuka Prosecutor's Office. No fatalities were reported in the incident.
The trial of two other defendants -- Yohanes Sabon, 27, and Agustinus Diaz, 34, -- at the same court was presided over by Judge Hendri Silaen, accompanied by judges Yoseph Fina and Bernadete Samosir.
Prosecutor Sandra Salamony charged the three with inciting a mob to burn the courthouse and the prosecutor's office.
In the first day of the trials, the prosecutors had to read out the charges several times because the defendants claimed they did not understand.
The trials were attended by hundreds of visitors including Father Frans Amanuen, who chairs the Larantuka diocese's commission for justice and peace, and seven lawyers for the five defendants.
After the hearing, which was adjourned until Feb. 24, the defendants were escorted under tight security to Penfui Prison.
The Nov. 15 incident began when thousands of residents of Larantuka, the capital of the predominantly Catholic East Flores regency, attended a trial in which Father Frans Amanuen faced charges of libel.
Amanuen was taken to court after he accused the East Flores regent of being involved in a price markup of a multipurpose boat that was purchased for the local government. The boat is said to have been worth Rp 3 billion (US$352,941).
In a local publication, Amanuen lashed out at the regent, saying that the regent had enriched himself through the purchase of the boat.
Regent Felix Fernandez expressed his displeasure over the comments made by the Catholic priest, and sued the outspoken priest.
A court later sentenced the priest to two months' imprisonment and five months' probation.
His supporters, however, were angered by the verdict, and went on a rampage, setting fire to the state buildings.