Prosecutors seeks one year for academic assault

Prosecutors seeks one year for academic assault

Theresia Sufa, Bogor

Prosecutors asked the Cibinong District Court on Wednesday to
sentence two brothers, both researchers at the University of
Indonesia, to a year in prison for assaulting a lecturer and
students at the university.

Prosecutor Kosasih told the court that the defendants --
Herryansah Iberamsjah, 29, a social and political studies
researcher, and Nirwansyah Iberamsjah, 23, a researcher in law
and technology -- had violated Article 351 of the Criminal Code
on assault. The two are accused of assaulting Reny Chandriachsja
Suwarso, 38, a lecturer in the Department of Social and Political
Studies, as well as two students.

The article carries a maximum punishment of 32 months in
prison.

The incident began when students and lecturers at the
University of Indonesia came out in opposition to the appointment
of the defendant' father, Iberamsjah, as the head of the
Department of Social and Political Studies on Sept. 23, 2003. The
opponents said the appointment was in violation of university
regulations.

According to witnesses, demonstrating students approached Reny
and asked whether they could attend the installment ceremony for
Iberamsjah.

The witnesses said that when Reny went to speak to several
security guards about whether the students could enter the hall
where the ceremony was taking place, he bumped into Herryansah
who in turn punched him. At the same time, Nirwansyah is alleged
to have attacked two students, Rheinhard Sirait and Yudi Fajar M.
Wahyu.

Presiding judge Djoko Suseno adjourned the trial until next
week, at which time the court will hear the defendants' plea.