Riot police officers face 4 months' jail term

Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Prosecutors have demanded that eight officers of the Central Jakarta Police anti-riot squad be sentenced to four months in prison each for assaulting students during a protest rally in front of the Supreme Court building in February.

Reading out the sentence demand at the Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday, Prosecutor Jeffri H., said that the witness testimonies were sufficient evidence to prove the defendants guilty of violating Article 170 of the Criminal Code on excessive use of force.

The article carries a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison should death ensue.

Eight students, including the victims of the assault, testified that they saw the defendants beating and kicking the students, when their peaceful rally demanding the court not to acquit House of Representatives speaker Akbar Tandjung in a graft case, turned into a clash with the anti-riot police.

Eleven of the defendants' superiors testified that the defendants were provoked by the students, who tried to storm the court's compound after learning that Akbar walked free.

However, the superiors claimed the defendants had also disobeyed their orders to restrain themselves during the incident, which injured some 60 students.

The defendants -- First Privates Joko Prasetyo and Siswanto and Second Privates Ahmad Juli Nasution bin Muslim, Amin Septadi, Dedi Yanto bin Ahmad, Didik Kuncoro bin Kusno, Samri Simamora and Teguh Sukamto -- pleaded guilty, saying their acts were driven by emotion.

Presiding judge Suripto adjourned the trial until Oct. 6 to hear the defense's appeal.