Student gets seven years for murder

BOGOR (JP): A 22-year-old student and drug addict named Rino Siswanto was sentenced on Monday to seven years in jail by Bogor District Court for robbery and accidentally killing a housemaid in a house at Taman Cimanggu here six months ago.

"Rino along with his friend Rudi (still at large) went to their friends house at 3 p.m. on that day (June 4) in Taman Cimanggu but there was no one around except the housemaid.

"Instead of leaving, the two planned to rob the house," Judge Musnidar said in the final hearing on Monday.

Rino hit the housemaid Tintin Suprihatin, known as Teten, on the head with a mortar.

"The defendant was only trying to knock the victim out. But Rudi arrived and stabbed the victim. Rino tried to stop Rudi and was cut on his hand," Musnidar said.

After this, the two escaped with various electronic items and jewelries worth a total of Rp 25 million.

"They then went to the Yogya department store, sold the gold jewelries for Rp 500,000 and shared the money," Musnidar said, adding that the money was used to buy drugs.

Based on this, Rino was in direct violation of Article 365 of the Criminal Code for thievery which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years imprisonment, Musnidar said.

Rudi is reportedly still at large, while Rino has to face another trial as, aside from robbery, he is also charged with drug abuse. (24/edt)