Repeat offenders jailed for theft

BOGOR (JP): The local district court has sentenced two men to three years in jail each and another to two years for stealing electronic goods worth Rp 5 million (US$1,000) in five separate robberies.

Presiding judge Gunalita said Wednesday that M. Salim, 31, and Hery alias Apong, 30 -- who would serve the longer sentences -- and Niptah, 30, were all repeat offenders.

"The sentences were higher than the prosecutor's requested on the grounds that the defendants had often been jailed for similar offenses," she said.

During the robberies the defendants often resorted to violence and injured their victims, the judge said.

The prosecutor earlier asked the court to sentence Salim and Heri each to 18 months in jail and Niptah to eight months in jail.

The defendants asked for leniency during their trial, saying that they had to support their wives and children.

"Now you remember your families," Gunalita said. "But when you stole from and injured your victims you didn't think about them." (24/jun)