Military court convicts four more officers in Aceh
Military court convicts four more officers in Aceh
JAKARTA (JP): A military court on Monday in Banda Aceh found
four low-ranking Army officers guilty of battery that led to the
death of five Lhokseumawe villagers in North Aceh, and of
injuring scores of others last Jan. 9.
Presiding Judge Lt. Col. P.J. Piter sentenced Pvt. Amsir (29)
to two years in jail, Pvt. Mahunun Harahap (31) two years and
four months, First Pvt. Manolam Situmorang (26) to two years and
two months and Pvt. Effendi (35) to two years and six months in
jail.
The four were also discharged from the military.
The ruling brought to five the total number of Armed Forces
(ABRI) members convicted of the crime. On Jan. 30, the North Aceh
Jaya Sakti former battalion commander Maj. Bayu Najib was
sentenced to six years in jail and dismissal from service.
The five were part of a group of 27 officers who allegedly
beat to death Kandang villagers in police detention for their
alleged involvement in the killing and kidnapping of several ABRI
officers late last year.
Monday's sentence was lower than demanded by military
prosecutor Aris Sudjarwadi, who demanded seven years imprisonment
and discharge from the military for each of the four officers.
Aris said the prosecution would consider whether to accept the
ruling.
The maximum penalty under Criminal Code Article 170 on battery
is 12 years.
The court room was reportedly packed with visitors.
The three-member judges panel said in their ruling that the
four convicted officers could no longer serve as ABRI members as
they had tarnished the image of the organization.
Meanwhile, seven ministers led by Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication Haryono Suyono arrived
in Lhokseumawe on Monday. The visit was to show the government's
concern for the villagers' plight and also to extend aid to
victims of military operations in the past.
The other ministers were Minister of Social Services Justika
S. Baharsjah, Minister of Public Works Rahmadi B.S., Minister of
Forestry and Plantations Muslimin Nasution, Minister of Health
Faried Anfasa Moeloek, Minister of Transmigration A.M.
Hendropriyono and Minister of Public Housing Theo L. Sambuaga.
(prb/aan)