Tampubolon killers may face 15 to 18 years imprisonment

JAKARTA (JP): Prosecutors in the murder trial of the four men charged with killing Brig. Gen. TMF Tampubolon urged the East Jakarta District Court yesterday to sentence them to between 15 and 18 years imprisonment each.

In the first court session, led by presiding Judge Soeroto, prosecutor Muslim Seija, asked the court to imprison two of the alleged assassins, Hendrik Setyawan, and Rusdi Abdul Rahman, for 18 years for the death of Tampubolon, 55, during an altercation in Cipinang, East Jakarta, on April 4.

In the second session, presided over by the same judge, prosecutor Saleh Abdurrahman, asked the court to sentence defendant Risdianto Alex to 18 years imprisonment for his part in the killing.

In a third session as overseen by Judge Soeroto, prosecutor Sutomo demanded 15 years imprisonment for defendant Lukman Achmad, an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver.

Unlike the three other defendants, Lukman was the only one taking part in the attack on the general who did not use a weapon.

Of the four defendants who faced the sentence demands, only Risdianto seemed upset at the length of the prison terms. He could barely walk. He had to be supported one of the guards when he left the courtroom after the judge adjourned the session.

Hendrik, Rusdi and Lukman simply looked down when the prosecutors read their sentence requests.

Sinta Harahap Tampubolon, the wife of the murdered officer, witnessed the three court proceedings in a composed and reserved manner. She later told reporters that the prosecutors' sentence demands were lighter than she had expected.

"I am not satisfied with the sentence request, because they have murdered my husband and my children's father in a savage way," she said in a muted voice.

Relatives

Harsher reactions came from the Tampubolon sisters, Ria and Marice. During a break between the first and second sessions, Ria approached the prosecutor's table and started to complain that the prosecutor should have demanded heavier punishment against the defendants.

"The murdered person was not just an ordinary man, he was a general, he was this nation's son," she said.

Since the first hearing on June 17, the court has examined eight witnesses who all testified against the four defendants. The defense lawyers have not presented any witnesses to support the case of the defendants.

John T. Siahaan, a lawyer representing Hendrik and Rusdi, said that his team had trouble finding witnesses for his clients.

"We have tried to look for witnesses but there was no chance to have them here," he said.

The killing occurred after the car driven by Tampubolon, an expert staff member on economic affairs to the Armed Forces commander, nearly brushed Hendrik and Rusdi, who were heading home from a billiard center.

Hendrik shouted at Tampubolon, who turned his car back 10 minutes later to confront them. This encounter escalated into a heated argument, which ended in the killing.

Suffering from 16 stab wounds, Tampubolon, a father of five, managed to drive his car to the Jl. Kebon Nanas police precinct. He died half an hour later at the Indonesian Christian University hospital, East Jakarta.

According to the autopsy report signed by Dr. Yuli Budiningsih of the University of Indonesia, Tampubolon's death was caused by wounds penetrating his liver and lungs.

The presiding judge adjourned the trial until July 28, to give the defense lawyers a chance to prepare their statements. (03)