Man imprisoned for rioting

TASIKMALAYA, West Java: The court ruled yesterday that Asep Ilyas bin Yusuf Sidiq did not mastermind last year's Dec. 26 riot as the prosecution had charged.

But presiding judge Zaharuddin Yusuf sentenced Asep to one year and 10 months imprisonment for involvement in the riot that caused several deaths and left scores of buildings damaged, Antara reported.

The prosecution had demanded four years imprisonment.

Asep's legal counsels decided to appeal, saying the panel of judges had based its decisions on "hearsay".

The same court sentenced two other suspects, Abdul Muis and Mimi Chaeruman, to two years and 10 years in jail respectively. Mimi was tried in absentia.

Thousands of people went on the rampage on Dec. 26, 1996, over police mistreatment of three local religious teachers. Four people died. (swe)