Police bomber jailed but not for long

A man found guilty of bombing National Police Headquarters and labeled as instigating public unrest, tarnishing the police name, lying to the court and refusing to accept responsibility for his actions was jailed on Wednesday.

He will be free in two months.

The South Jakarta District Court handed down a one-year sentence to Anang Sumpena, the sole defendant of the Feb. 3 blast at Wisma Bhayangkari hall in the police headquarters compound.

Both the prosecution and defense are considering appeals.

Presiding judge Syamsul Ali said Anang had violated both Emergency Law No. 12/1951 by possessing explosives, which carries the death penalty, and Article 187 of Criminal Code on arson.

Prosecutors had demanded a five-year sentence.

Anang, a former police expert specializing in disarming explosive devices, told the court Monday that he was made a scapegoat by high-ranking police officers desperate to solve the case who had earlier offered him incentives to confess to the crime. Anang was taken into custody last February.

"I want to appeal the verdict because I am innocent. But I'm afraid I will get a longer sentence if I file an appeal. I want to think it over," Anang told reporters. -- JP