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)