Three charged with subversion for rioting

JAKARTA (JP): A trial began yesterday for three people suspected of being involved in a bloody riot in the West Java town of Tasikmalaya in December last year.

The three were charged with subversion which carries a maximum penalty of death. The suspects were Abdul Muis, 25, Asep Ilyas, 23, and Agustiana, 32. There is another suspect, youth activist Mimih Haeruman, 25, who is still at large. He is being tried in his absence.

The prosecution team told the Tasikmalaya District Court that the three had undermined the state and sought to create division among people.

The riot caused the state about Rp 85 billion (US$29 million) in financial losses, according to one of the prosecutors.

The defendants were charged under the 1963 Law on Subversion.

The riot erupted on Dec. 26 last year, leaving four people dead and dozens of buildings damaged.

An angry mob went on a rampage through the city, setting fire to shops, buildings and churches. The violence was apparently sparked by a report of police brutalizing a local preacher and two of his students.

Four police officers involved in the abuse were dishonorably discharged in January.

Antara reported that prosecutor Tubagus Hanafi accused Asep as the mastermind of the riot.

When asked by Judge Zaharuddin Yusuf, Asep said he did not understand the charge.

The defendants' lawyer, Adnan Buyung Nasution, asked the court to give him two weeks time to explain to Asep about the charges being leveled at him. Zaharuddin Yusuf granted him five days.

According to Antara, during a break in the court hearing, Buyung told reporters that he regretted the use of the subversion law on his clients.

He said the prosecution contrived to use the subversion law on the defendants. "I am angry (because the prosecution) used the subversion law to charge them," he said.

The session, which lasted six hours, was tightly guarded by security officers.

Almost all members of the local council of government officials, including the Tasikmalaya regent, Suljana W.H., attended the session. (05)