Soldiers face light sentences for attack
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.