JP/5/larantu

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.