Navy MPs decline joint murder trial

Navy MPs decline joint murder trial

JAKARTA: The Navy Military Police declined a request for a
joint trial by lawyers for Gunawan Santosa, who faces trial for
the murder of PT Aneka Sarana Bakti (Asaba) director Boedyharto
Angsono.

"Why should there be a joint trial ... it would take a long
time to start the trial," Navy Military Police chief Brig. Gen.
Soenarko GA said on Friday.

He said a joint trial would have to be approved by both the
minister of justice and human rights and the Indonesian Military
chief. A joint investigation is also required before a joint
trial, Soenarko added.

The lawyers made the request during a hearing at the North
Jakarta District Court on Wednesday, arguing that four other
people charged with manslaughter in the case are Navy marines.

Boedyharto and his bodyguard, Army Special Forces member
Second Sgt. Edi Siyep, were shot and killed in July last year in
the parking lot of the Sasana Krida Sports Stadium in
Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

"We have completed investigation of the four marines ... the
case is ready to be brought to the military court," Soenarko said
as quoted by Tempointeraktif. -- JP