Robot gets death sentence

Robot gets death sentence

JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court sentenced
Siswanto, alias Robot Gedek, to death yesterday for the
premeditated murder of 12 boys who he had also sodomized.

Robot, 33, was found guilty of violating Article 65 of the
Penal Code for the murders and sexually abusing his victims.

"Robot's crimes sent shock waves through the community because
he sadistically killed underage boys. What he did can never be
forgiven," Presiding Judge Sartono said.

He also said that the court found the defendant sane and
therefore legally responsible for his crimes.

On hearing the verdict, Robot, who comes from the Central Java
town of Pekalongan, looked shocked. He even got up and tried to
approach the bench, but court officials restrained him
immediately.

Robot repeatedly said to the judges: "I don't want to die".

Sartono then explained to Robot that he could appeal to the
High Court if he wanted to.

No sooner had the judge delivered his sentence than defense
lawyers Najab Khan and Febry Irmansyah said: "We'll immediately
appeal the verdict."

Robot agreed with the lawyers' statement and nodded his head
several times.

Before the session began Robot looked relaxed. He even joked
with reporters and asked for money when they tried to take his
picture.

After the verdict he looked helpless. He said he regretted
killing the boys.

When reporters asked him if he would have been remorseful if
the judges had handed down a life sentence, Robot said: "No".

Yesterday's session was punctured with a moment of humor when,
just before the panel of judges finished with the verdict, Robot
asked to go to the toilet.

This not only caused laughter among the spectators but also
made the judges smile.

Robot, who appeared in his usual black pants and white shirt,
looked nervous throughout yesterday's proceedings. He kept
shaking and scratching his head.

After the trial Robot said that he was afraid to die because
after he would never see his parents again.

Najab told The Jakarta Post that their decision to appeal was
based on the fact that the court had failed to prove that Robot
had committed premeditated murders.

The judges only said that Robot had planned the murders
because "he still had time to think over his plan", he said.

"What we understand is that planning murder also includes
identifying the victim, and a real intention, which the
prosecutors could not prove," Najab said. (12)

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