Repeat offenders jailed for theft

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)