Youths face 18-year jail sentences for slayings
Youths face 18-year jail sentences for slayings
JAKARTA (JP): Prosecutors demanded here yesterday that a court
sentence three youths to 18 years in prison for allegedly killing
four people.
A team of prosecutors comprised of Siti Ratna, Sri Yatmi and
Wirzal Yanuar are seeking the minimum punishment under chapter
340 of the criminal code violations, which cites that those found
guilty of premeditated murder are to face capital punishment,
life in prison or a minimum 20-year prison term.
"The 18-year prison term indictment was due to the youths'
legal status of still being minors," prosecutor Sri Yatmi told
reporters after the closed hearing.
The three were alleged to have taken part in the killing of
teacher Rohadi's family last year, the prosecutors told the East
Jakarta district court.
The defendants identified only as Alb., 15, Lamb., 12, and
Klem., 13, were charged with killing Rohadi's wife and three
children.
On Oct. 2, 1995, Elly Kusneli and her three children -- Gilang
Fauzi, 7, Citra Utami, 4, and Rizky Wahyu Ramadhan, 2 -- were
found in a pool of blood at their home in Bambu Apus subdistrict
in East Jakarta.
The prosecutor's indictment stated that the three children
were allegedly asked to take part in the murder by two other
suspects, Philipus Kia Lejab and his wife, Suparm
Philipus -- the prime suspect in the killings -- allegedly
informed Suparmi about his plan to kill Rohadi's family one day
before the actual tragedy took place.
Motive
The motive behind the killings was said to have been the
destruction by the Rohadi children of Philipus' cassava plants.
This plan was allegedly conceived so that Philipus could purchase
the Rohadi family's land. He had allegedly planned to build a
house on the land, which he later planned to rent out to
prospective customers.
Philipus' son Alb. and his nephew Lamb.-- who was spending his
school holiday at Philipus' home -- were allegedly informed by
Philipus about the conspiracy on the morning of Oct. 2. Klem.--
another nephew -- was notified about the plan later on.
According to the plan, the gang would use the planting of
cassava as an excuse for bringing a long knife and being close to
Rohadi's house.
Philipus, who lived about 200 meters from the Rohadi family's
home, owned a plot of land surrounding Rohadi's house.
Testimonies from 23 witnesses were heard during the closed
hearing, led by Judge Farida Achmad.
The team of lawyers representing the youths are to present
their arguments on May 15. (14)