Main suspect faces 12 years for deadly Medan rally

MEDAN: Prosecutors on Wednesday requested Medan District Court imprison Chandra Panggabean, the alleged mastermind behind a violent protest in February 2009.

The protest, held outside the North Sumatra legislative council to press for the establishment of Tapanuli province, led to the death of council speaker Abdul Aziz Angkat.

Chandra is the chairman of the Tapanuli Province Establishment Committee. Chandra showed up to hear his sentencing demand on Thursday after failing to appear at hearings four times, citing health reasons.

The 12-year jail term sought for Chandra was strongly protested by the bereaved family of the late council speaker. Agung Wibowo Angkat, the son of Aziz Angkat, said the demand was too lenient and that Chandra should have faced the death penalty because he was allegedly the main figure behind the violence.

Prosecutor Amrizal Tahar said Chandra had played a key role in the demonstration. "We charge the defendant with *violating* articles on premeditated murder and the disbandment of a council meeting."

The Medan court on Tuesday jailed Datumira Simanjuntak to seven years' imprisonment, holding him also partially responsible for the demonstration. Prosecutors had sought a 12-year jail term for the former North Sumatra councilor. -JP