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)