Party leader jailed for role in violent rally

Medan District Court on Tuesday sentenced the National People’s Concern Party North Sumatra chapter chairman Nurdin Pustaha Manurung to one and a half years in jail for his role in a rally that turned violent and led to the death of provincial legislative council speaker Abdul Aziz Angkat, last February.

The panel of judges convicted Nurdin of dissolving a hearing held by a legitimate representative body, which is a crime according to the Criminal Code.

The judges, however, did not find the defendant guilty of inciting violence during the rally.

State prosecutors said Nurdin had agitated the crowd into violence, and demanded he serve seven years in prison. Prosecutors said they would appeal the court’s verdict.

Nurdin also plans to challenge the sentence at a higher court, denying any wrongdoing during the rally.

“I came to the legislative council to sing the national anthem and support the formation of Tapanuli province. Was that wrong?” he said.

At a separate hearing Tuesday, the court convicted Tapanuli University student Imanuel Natanael to two years’ imprisonment for his involvement in the violent rally.