Prosecutors demand eight months for soldiers
Berni K. Moestafa and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh
Military prosecutors are seeking an eight-month sentence for three soldiers who allegedly assaulted civilians during a raid in Bireuen, Aceh regency, at the end of May.
The prosecutors' demand followed the three soldiers' confessions and the testimony of victims delivered on Wednesday at the military tribunal in Lhokseumawe.
"The soldiers are guilty of the charges," said military prosecutor Capt. Baharuddin Siregar during the court session yesterday.
First Pvt. Syaiful Bahri, 29, Second Pvt. Tony Narianto, 22, and Second Pvt. Agus Hidayat, 24, were accused of physically abusing five residents of Lawang village, Peudada District, Bireuen regency in a raid against members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), and thereby not acting in accordance with the rules of military discipline.
Four other soldiers, including a middle-ranking officer, are still awaiting trial at the military tribunal.
During the raid, the soldiers also killed Abu Bakar, a resident, whom they claimed to be a member of GAM as they had found a bundle of identity cards belonging to villagers in his house.
Abu Bakar's widow Aisyah said to reporters that her husband was killed by soldiers, who dragged him out of the house, beat him and then shot him.
One of the seven suspects, (First Private) Alfian, however, told the court on Wednesday that Abu Bakar was a rebel and he was shot while trying to escape.
Witnesses identified the three soldiers behind the beating of Lawang villagers during an early-morning raid for GAM members on May 27. The victims, three of whom appeared before the court on Wednesday, suffered bruises on their faces and bodies.
Prosecutors charged the soldiers with violating Articles 251 and 55 of the Criminal Code on the torture of civilians, as well as Article 103 of the Military Criminal Code for neglecting military discipline.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
However, prosecutors demanded eight months for Syaiful and Agus, and eight months and 20 days for Toni, who allegedly assaulted three civilians.
Baharuddin said that the prosecution was reducing the charges because the soldiers were relatively young, were polite in court and because they were serving their duty in Aceh.
But he added that the three had tarnished the image of the Indonesian Military, caused suffering to others, took the law into their own hands and violated the Saptamarga principles under the military code of ethics.
"These considerations were heavily weighing upon the severity of their charges," said Baharuddin.