Students face 12 years in jail for murder

JAKARTA (JP): Seven high school students are each facing a maximum sentence of twelve years imprisonment if found guilty of murder, a court was told yesterday.

In his indictment, prosecutor Agung Dipo told the East Jakarta district court that victim Abdul Halim, a student at a Budi Utomo IV technical school, was allegedly beaten and stabbed to death by the seven students from STM Kapin technical school. The incident occurred on Jan. 16 as the victim was riding a bus to Kampung Melayu bus terminal.

Suspect DL, who has not been caught, allegedly snatched the hat of victim Abdul Halim, who was sitting near a window on his way home. As the two quarreled, suspect AM stepped into the bus from the back door and hit the victim, while suspect AC and IL entered from the front door.

Outnumbered, victim Abdul attempted to flee but he was pushed out of the bus and was beaten up on the street by SR who trampled on him.

Suspects AC, KJ, JS then joined in the attack, kicking the victim. When Abdul tried to run, suspect IL stabbed a screwdriver into his back. IL's friends continued beating and stepping on Abdul's back before abandoning him. He was later rescued by witness Satiman, who took him to Harum Hospital in East Jakarta, where he died shortly afterwards.

A post mortem report from the University of Indonesia's Forensic Department cited that the victim died of severe bleeding from his ripped aorta.

Suspect IL, who allegedly stabbed victim Abdul, will be tried separately. Both cases are being tried by judges Tojib Matderis, Basoeki and Kamar Sembiring.

The court hearing of suspect IL was suspended for 10 minutes to allow the defendant to consult with his mother regarding his legal representative. A letter which cites his inability to hire a law practitioner is requested by the team of judges before a lawyer is assigned to handle IL's case.

Only suspect SR appeared at the hearing with a team of lawyers. The other six suspects in the same hearing, despite suggestions from judge Tojib, refused to be represented.

All suspects have been detained since Jan. 18.

Prosecutors requested that the case's schedule not be publicized for security reasons. (14)