Prosecutors surprise many

Prosecutors surprise many

JAKARTA (JP): Prosecutors in North Jakarta have, surprisingly, sought a prison sentence of only one year for a 26-year-old man accused of smuggling three guns, 162 bullets, a BMW sedan, three motorcycles, a bow and arrows and four telephone sets from the United States.

The jail term sought comes as a surprise because Indonesian law requires a convicted gun smuggler to be sentenced to 20 years to life, or receive the death penalty, as stipulated in Article 1 of Emergency Law No. 12, 1951.

"I have no further comment on the case," City Police spokesman Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko told The Jakarta Post yesterday, when asked about the case.

"What the police can do -- as required by law -- is just bring the case to court," he said. "Whatever the outcome of the case, it's no longer our responsibility."

Any decisions made by the judges will never obstruct police work, fighting crime in Jakarta, he added.

During the trial, at the local district court on Thursday, prosecutors Haruddin and Yuswa Kusumah said in their indictment, that the defendant, identified as HW, should also pay a fine of Rp 10 million (US$4,450).

For the last several years HW has been studying computer sciences in Los Angeles on a scholarship. He returned home last year, bringing his personal belongings with him.

To make transportation easier, his BMW sedan was disassembled and put into a container, along with the guns, motorcycles, bow and arrows and his other personal items.

The container, number HDMU-4140018, was then shipped from Long Beach seaport on the vessel Hyundai Federal Voy 002, in July 1994. The ship arrived at Tanjung Priok port the next month.

HW stated on the bill of lading that the container held household goods, such as kitchen utensils, clothes, a television set, cameras and computer sets.

Custom officers at the Jakarta port found items contrary to the document inside the container.

Two of the guns were .22 caliber rifles, of Savage and Ruger make. The other firearm was a ERMA/EXAM, model RX, .22 caliber.

During police investigations, HW denied the possession of the guns.

Disregarding the existing Emergency Law, the prosecutors only accused HW of smuggling goods into Indonesian without the proper legal documents.

Presiding judge Soemarjono told the court that the panel of judges will announce their decision during the next trial session, on May 2. (bsr)