Ten years sought for Sangaji's killers

Ten years sought for Sangaji's killers

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Prosecutors sought 10-year jail terms on Tuesday for each of the
three defendants being tried for the murder of former Maluku
youth leader Basri Sangaji at a hotel in South Jakarta last year.

Prosecutor Nurhasan Ridwan told the South Jakarta District
Court that Semy Charter Refra alias Semy Key, 25, Emang Refra
alias Kupas, 24, and Rais Texas alias Subur, 24, had violated
Articles 338 and 351 of the Criminal Code on murder, and
Article 2 of Emergency Law No. 12/1951 on the illegal possession
of weapons.

"We appeal to the judges to find the defendants guilty and
punish them accordingly," he said.

The sentencing recommendation appeared light, however, for
such charges as on the same day prosecutors at the Central
Jakarta District Court sought a life sentence for Adiguna Sutowo,
the only defendant in the murder of waiter Rudy Natong at the
Hilton hotel last January.

Sangaji, who was also a reputed gang leader, was murdered at
the Kebayoran Inn last Oct. 12.

According to the testimony of eyewitnesses during the trial,
at least 15 people burst into Sangaji's hotel room and attacked
him and two members of his group who were with him at the time.
Sangaji died during the attack while the two others were badly
injured.

Police later arrested eight suspects, and submitted the case
files to state prosecutors.

The prosecutors dropped the primary charges of premeditated
murder, arguing that the defendants acted spontaneously during a
fight between the two groups.

"We can't charge them under Article 340 of the Criminal Code
on premeditated murder as there was not enough evidence for
this," Nurhasan said after Tuesday's hearing, which was held in a
South Jakarta police station to avoid a possible riot.

A brawl between the two groups occurred last month during the
first day of the trial. A number of people had to be brought to
the hospital after the incident.

The court adjourned the trial until May 20, when it is due to
hear defense arguments.

In a separate trial, prosecutors sought jail terms ranging
from three to four years for five other defendants for assisting
Semy, Emang and Rais in the murder. The five defendants are
Sevanya Rahakbau alias Lois, 32, Erwin Labettubun, 24, Koko
Renwarin, 28, and Yopi Ingrattubun, 28.