Court sentences students, vendor for roles in chaotic rally

Medan District Court on Tuesday found four students and a street vendor guilty of playing a part in the chaotic rally that led to the death of North Sumatera provincial legislative council (DPRD) speaker Abdul Aziz Angkat in February.

The panel of judges sentenced students of Sisingamangaraja XII University Anju Naibaho and Urat Sihombing to five years, other students Fernando Situmorang and Rizon Manalu to three years and vendor Joko Subiakto to three and a half years imprisonment respectively.

The judges said the defendants had been convincingly proved to have violated Article 146 of the Criminal Code on dissolution of a legislative council meeting.

Presiding Judge Asmui said speeches from Anjo Naibao and Urat Sihombing had escalated tension among protesters, provoking them to vandalize the DPRD building.

Responding to the verdict, the defendants said they would appeal, while state prosecutors opted to take time to decide whether or not they would appeal.