Trisakti trial to end today

JAKARTA (JP): The long journey of the Trisakti incident's military tribunal might at last end today because the presiding judge is scheduled to read the final verdict on the two police officers brought to trial after the May 12 incident.

Today's 16th session, to be led by presiding judge Col. Sudji Suradi, will determine the fate of First Lt. Agus Tri Heryanto and Second Lt. Pariyo, both from the city police Mobile Brigade.

Prosecutor Col. Sadji Purwono has demanded the court sentence Agus, a company commander during the incident, to 10 months in prison, and Pariyo, a platoon commander, to seven months in prison.

The two have been charged under Article 103 of the Military Penal Code for indiscipline. They allegedly ordered their subordinates to open fire on crowds in an attempt to disperse them during an anti-government protest staged by hundreds of Trisakti University students.

All nine members of the defendants' civilian defense team led by Adnan Buyung Nasution are scheduled to attend the final session of the trial.

Meanwhile, the head of the team investigating the incident, Jakarta Police Military Commander Col. Hendardji said that he was preparing dossiers on more suspects in the incident in which four Trisakti students died.

"We are currently waiting for the results of joint ballistics tests being carried out by the National Police Forensic Laboratory (Puslabfor), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and weapons manufacturer PT Pindad.

He said that after the trial of the two officers was complete, five more of the 18 suspects held in connection with the incident would be brought before the court.

"But they are not the main suspects," Hendardji added. (edt)