Life sentence sought for hit man in fatal shooting

The Jakarta Post ,  Tangerang   |  Tue, 12/01/2009 1:25 PM  |  Headlines

Prosecutors sought a life sentence for 25-year-old Daniel Daen Sabon, a defendant in the assassination of Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, the former director of a state-owned company, in a hearing at Tangerang District Court on Monday.

Prosecutors Rahardjo Budi Kiswanto, Riyadi and Arie Broer read out their case from a 79-page document for more than two hours.

Daniel, the prosecutor said, was accused of being the hitman and was being tried for violating Article 340 of the Criminal Code on premeditated murder.

The prosecutors argued the homicide caused the victim's family agony as the victim was the sole breadwinner for his extended family. The defendant was considered uncooperative during the legal proceedings.

The defendant also benefited financially from the murder, receiving a Rp 35 million payment in cash.

The defendant has previously been charged with assault in separate case.

"There is no mitigating factor for the defendant," Rahardjo was quoted as saying by vivanews.com.

Aside from Daniel, the murder case implicates four others: Eduardus Noe Ndopo Mbete, who issued the order, Hendrikus Kia Walens who received the order, Fransiskus Tadon Kerans who helped survey the victim prior to the murder and Heri Santosa, who rode the motorcycle used for the drive-by shooting.

The case became high profile after it implicated big names, including former Corruption Eradication Commission chief Antasari Azhar, former South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Wiliardi Wizard, media tycoon Sigid Haryo Wibisono and another businessman, Jerry Hermawan Lo.

In their indictment in separate cases, prosecutors alleged Antasari was having an affair with Nasruddin's third wife Rhani Juliani, a golf caddie at the Modernland Golf Club. They claimed Nasruddin had found out about the affair and had later hounded Antasari's family, which they said led to Antasari arranging to have Nasruddin killed.

It was reported that Antasari secured help from Sigid, who provided the cash, and Wiliardi, who recruited the hit men with the help of Jerry, to execute the murder plan.

Nasruddin was gunned down after playing golf at the Modernland Golf Course in Cikokol, Tangerang, Banten on March 14, 2009.

He died after being treated for 22 hours after sustaining two shot wounds to his head.

After the shooting, Daniel fled to Surabaya, East Java, through Gambir Station.

He later discovered the identity of the man he had shot after reading it in the newspaper.

Through his lawyer, Juan Felix Tampubolon, Daniel asked for three weeks to prepare his defense statement.

However, the presiding judge Asnun turned down the request, granting two weeks instead.

"The detention period is about to expire. I schedule you to read your defense statement on Dec. 14," Asnun said.

The reading of the sentence demands for four other assassins was adjourned until Thursday as the prosecutors said they were ill prepared.

"We are not ready yet. The reading of the sentence demands is slated for Thursday," prosecutor Rawando told tempointeraktif.com.

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