Soldiers face light sentences for attack
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra
Military prosecutors demanded on Wednesday sentences of between 10 months and 42 months in jail for 19 soldiers standing trial for their alleged role in an attack on police in Binjai, North Sumatra, that left 12 people dead in September.
During the hearing in the province's military court, prosecutors Maj. Heru, Maj. Ahmad Dendy and Capt. Bahabuddin Siregar sought between two years and three-and-a-half years in jail for 10 Army personnel for attacking the Binjai police station on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30.
The rest of the soldiers face between 10 months and three years for their alleged involvement in the fight with the police's Mobile Brigade that followed the attack.
Another soldier failed to turn up as he was still receiving treatment for his injuries. He will be tried separately.
The soldiers are charged with violating article 1 of the 1951 Emergency Law and article 170 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years in jail for collective violence occasioning loss of life.
In the session presided over by Judge Lt. Col. T.R. Samosir, the prosecutors also demanded that all of the 20 servicemen from the 100/PS Airborne Unit be dishonorably discharged for violating military discipline.
Hospital and local administration reports revealed that eight police officers, a soldier and three civilians were killed in the violence, the latest clash to involve the police and military since the two organizations were separated in 2000.
But the prosecutors said in their indictments that the incident claimed only five lives comprising four police officers and an unidentified person.
Bahabuddin admitted there were more fatalities as a result of the attack, but that prosecutors had yet to insert them in their indictments.
Second Sgt. Amru Daulay and Second Sgt. Jamaluddin are facing the heaviest sentences for allegedly masterminding the attack and inciting their colleagues to take action against the police.
The incident revolved around the police's refusal to bow to a soldier's demand that they release a detainee accused of possessing dried marijuana.
Over one ton of marijuana and 45 inmates incarcerated in the Binjai police station went missing following the attack. Police have been unable to retrieve the marijuana and have only managed to recapture one of the detainees so far.
In their indictments, the prosecutors said the soldiers used combat weapons during the attack.
A witness from the Bukit Barisan Military Command, First Lt. C, Laguna, previously told the court that the attackers had used 323 SS1 semiautomatic rifles.
The hearing was adjourned until Monday to hear defense arguments.