Six soldiers jailed for torturing civilian

JAKARTA (JP): A military tribunal in the West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak sentenced six soldiers to prison terms ranging from two months to 11 months for torturing a civilian in April.

It handed down the jail terms on Monday to four soldiers from the artillery unit of Ngabang: First Lt. R. Djainudin was sentenced to five months, First Sgt. Jimmy Mahendra Dhata 11 months, Wawan Setiawan two months and Second Sgt. Nano Suwarno four months.

Over the weekend, another two soldiers from the same unit, Capt. Suyitno and Second Lt. J.T. Simanjuntak, were sentenced to prison terms of three months and 10 months respectively for the same offense.

When reading the verdict on Monday, presiding judge Col. Chanada said Jimmy deserved the heftiest sentenced because the defendant was the one who triggered the incident.

The incident was sparked in April by a minor road accident involving an indigenous Dayak civilian identified as Jinning.

Jimmy assaulted Jinning who reportedly told the soldier to be careful after the latter's bike brushed by him. Although Jinning did not fight back, the offended Jimmy and a group of soldiers picked up Jinning from his house later in the day and tortured him at the local Army headquarters until he lost consciousness and needed hospital treatment.

Rumors that Jinning died by the hands of abductors angered Jinning's neighbors. An estimated 2,000 angry villagers then went on the rampage, attacking Army headquarters. At least one protester was killed as soldiers opened fire on the demonstrators to disperse them.

Chanada said the soldiers were found guilty of torturing Jinning.

The chief of the Pontianak military command, Col. Zainuri Hasyim, said that 14 soldiers were initially arrested in connection with Jinning's torture and the aftermath.

The other eight were released but received "disciplinary action" for their part and were returned to their unit, Antara reported. (pan)