Man jailed for Xmas harassment

Man jailed for Xmas harassment

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: The district court here has sentenced Didik Warsito to five years imprisonment for harassing a Christmas service in a Roman Catholic church last December.

Earlier, prosecutors sought three-and-a-half years, considered by local residents to be too lenient. Demands for a review sparked rioting that claimed at least one life last month.

Warsito was found guilty of disrupting a Catholic Christmas service at the St. Josef Wairpelit church.

According to the Kompas daily, the team of judges said that nothing could excuse the defendant for what he did, which not only disrupted the peace of one religion but caused uneasiness among all religions in the Sikka regency.

The judges deny that their verdict was influenced by the rioting or by any individual. (pwn)