Trisakti defendants get prison terms
Trisakti defendants get prison terms
JAKARTA (JP): The military tribunal convened over the Trisakti
incident sentenced two police officers yesterday to 10 months and
4 months in jail respectively for ordering their men to shoot
into a crowd of demonstrating students last May.
The two officers, First Lt. Agus Tri Heryanto, 29, and Second
Lt. Pariyo, 38, from the city police mobile brigade unit, were
also ordered to pay Rp 5,000 (40 U.S. cents) each to help cover
trial expenses.
Presiding judge Col. Sudji Suradi said in his verdict that the
two officers were guilty of disobeying or exceeding orders as
stipulated in Article 103 of the Military Penal Code for acts
breaching discipline. Such violations carry a maximum sentence of
two years and four months in prison.
Agus' sentence was in line with prosecutor Col. Sadji
Purwono's demands, but Pariyo's sentence was three months lighter
than requested.
Adnan Buyung Nasution, the senior lawyer on the defense team,
said he would appeal the verdict in the military appeals court.
Following Nasution's announcement that he would make an
appeal, judge Sudji told the court: "Since the defendants wish to
make an appeal, this ruling has yet to become legally binding."
Agus and Pariyo stood throughout the entire hearing, which
lasted for almost five hours starting at 9 a.m.
The hearing was attended by at least 300 people.
More than 100 Trisakti students attending the trial displayed
banners saying: "The military prosecutor should not be afraid of
the police" and "De facto: Police, De jure: Police, We want
justice and truth".
Yesterday's hearing was the officers' 16th session since June
6 when the tribunal opened its trial against the two for
allegedly ordering their subordinates to open fire on students
staging an antigovernment protest in front of Trisakti University
on May 12.
Four students were shot to death and dozens of others were
injured during the incident.
Three days after the Trisakti shootings, the capital was
rocked by massive riots which eventually forced former president
Soeharto to leave office after holding onto the post for 32
years.
The two officers are the first of 18 security personnel to be
tried in connection with the Trisakti incident.
So far, no one has yet to be charged for the actual shootings
and government and military investigators say they are still
investigating the cause of the riots.
After the trial, lawyer Adnan told reporters that the court's
ruling was truly unfair.
"Of course it is the judge's right, but he ignored all of the
facts revealed by the witnesses throughout the trial," he said.
Adnan pointed out that the court had apparently believed the
testimony of Salatiel Daili, who claimed he saw Agus wearing a
helmet and holding a long rifle at the site, despite testimony by
other reliable witnesses who stated they saw the officer wearing
a cap and holding a small tear gas gun.
Defense lawyer Mohammad Assegaf added that the defense team
would study the judge's statement and prepare a solid argument to
prove the two defendants' innocence.
"We have a video tape of the incident clearly showing that
Agus only wore a cap and brought a gas gun.
"He was also protecting a student during the fray while
kicking at rioters," Assegaf said.
"We hope to soon start preparations for the appeal. We want to
fight to the end," he said, estimating they could complete their
preparations within two weeks.
Agus told reporters that he and Pariyo had decided to appeal
the decision because they believed they had performed their
duties well.
"I did the best I could. I'm innocent. How can the judge say
there was no life-threatening situation happening when the
incident occurred on May 12?
"And the judge said they had decided to dismiss the fact that
there were stones and bamboo poles thrown by demonstrators.
"I fought those rioters! I have a scar on my chest to prove
it," Agus said. (edt/bsr)