T

he South Jakarta District Court on Thursday sentenced Agus Imam Solihin, the leader of a deviant sect, to two-and-a-half years in prison for blasphemy.

Presiding judge Haryanto ruled that Agus, founder of the Satria Piningit Weteng Buwono sect, was guilty for violating Article 156 of the Criminal Code.

The sentencing was lighter than the five years prosecutors had sought, which was the maximum punishment for the crime.

Agus had been indicted for "spreading heretical teachings among his Muslim followers".

"The mitigating factors for the defendant are that he has admitted and regretted his crime," Haryanto said. "The defendant also has no prior convictions."

Agus said he accepted the ruling, while the prosecutors said they needed more time to decide on appealing the sentence.

"We have seven days to decide," said lead prosecutor Dedy Sukarno.

Agus's sect was reported to the police by a former follower, Kusmana. His claim that Agus was responsible for the death of his daughter, Ratna Ayu Kusumaningrum, last December made the headlines.

Agus had reportedly prevented Kusmana for seeking medical treatment for the severely ill Ratna, saying it was not the sect's way.

Police detectives then raided the cult leader's home, which was also the sect's headquarters, in Kebagusan, South Jakarta.

Agus evaded capture, but witnesses came forward and testified he had been preaching his ideas for the past 10 years and had 40 followers. Sect members had also encouraged to have sex and change partners, with other members watching, including Agus.

Following the headline-grabbing revelations, Agus surrendered to the police in January.