Six soldiers jailed for torturing civilian

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)