Man jailed for extorting money

BOGOR (JP): Bogor District Court has sentenced a 29-year-old man to two years in jail for extorting money from his two former fathers-in-law and grandfather-in-law.

After presiding judge Maria Wijaya read the verdict Tuesday, defendant Adi Widodo pointed at one of his former fathers-in-law, Soleh -- who was sitting in the public gallery -- and said: "Two years is not too long. You engineered statements to ensure I was punished."

Outside the court, Soleh later rebuffed Adi's comments, saying: "I am not easily threatened."

The judge found Adi guilty of menacing Soleh with a machete and forcing him to sell his house for Rp 12 million.

Adi used the money to pay the installment fee for an angkot public transportation minivan, she said.

The incident occurred before the defendant divorced Soleh's daughter, Surya Dwiastuti, on July 23, last year after a seven- year marriage.

The judge said Adi also threatened Surya's grandfather, Saalih, with a machete and demanded Rp 15 million.

But Saalih had no money, so the defendant took Saalih's car and sold it, she said.

He used the haul to buy a motorcycle and fund his marriage to another woman, identified as Aryani, she said.

Adi was also found guilty of extorting Rp 10 million from Aryani's father, Udin.

The penalty imposed on Adi was one year lighter than what prosecutor Amik Wulandari had asked for, in accordance with Article 368 (1) of the Criminal Code.

The victims' lawyer, M. Eddi Freddy, said the defendant would face four similar charges for extorting money from his neighbors in Kampung Sugutamu, Bakti Jaya village, Depok. (24/jun)