Soldier receives 11 years

JAKARTA (JP): A military tribunal in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, sentenced a soldier to 11 years in prison and dismissed him from the Armed Forces for killing a civilian in March.

Judge Col. Hadi Sutantyo said in his verdict that First Private Masdi, 25, was guilty of murdering Ainuddin, 48. Masdi owed Ainuddin Rp 1.5 million (US$640) and could not pay it back.

"It was an inhuman, sadistic act... the defendant wanted to dump Ainuddin's body in the sea," said Hadi, who took three hours to read the verdict.

Masdi admitted to killing Ainuddin on March 12 in Pringgabaya village in eastern Lombok because he could not pay off his debt.

According to the verdict, Masdi repeatedly hit the victim's head with a hard instrument, causing fatal injuries.

The judge said Masdi deserved the sentence because his crime tarnished the Armed Forces' image as a whole.

"There is no reason to keep him in the Armed Forces. It is appropriate that he is dismissed," he said.

The accused's lawyer, Capt. Fauzi, said he would need several days to decide if he would appeal. (pan)