Two brothers sentenced to death for murder

Two brothers sentenced to death for murder

Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Purwokerto

Four members of a family in Banyumas regency, Central Java, have
received severe sentences for premeditated murder and
dismembering a body.

A panel of judges led by Bambang Widyatmoko at the Purwokerto
District Court sentenced on Monday Agus Santoso, 28, and his
younger brother Ruslan Abdul Ghani, 24, to death for the murder
of Hery Best, a bodyguard working for a former Banyumas
legislative council speaker.

Their 63-year old father, Sony Tarsono, was also found guilty
of the premeditated murder and dismemberment and jailed for 20
years.

The same court last week also sentenced Sony's other son,
Mukti Wibowo, to 10 years in prison over the same charges. The
court gave Mukti a lighter sentence because of his age; he was 17
years old at the time of the crimes.

The family members were held responsible for the murder on
Aug. 24, last year of Hery Best, a resident from neighboring
Kauman Lama.

Based on the results of the police investigation, the murder
was a revenge crime after a dispute over a trading area near the
Purwokerto bus terminal.

Police said the murder was committed at the suspects' house
and the Hery's body was then dismembered, with the body parts
dumped in separate places.

The head was found in Baturaden, about 15 kilometers from the
murder scene, while the other parts were dumped in Banjarnegara,
about 40 kilometers away.

After sentencing, Agus and Ruslan said they would appeal to
the high court.

Shocked family members said the verdict was unfair and made no
sense. It was strange that some members received death sentences
while others were given lighter punishments, they said.

The presiding judge, Bambang, said Sony did not receive a
death sentence because of his age, 63, and because he had not
taken part in dismembering Hery, although he had disposed of some
of the body parts.

The lawyer for the convicted family members, Paulus Gunadi,
told The Jakarta Post he would need one week to prepare the
appeal.