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Murderer of street kids sentenced to death
The Jakarta High Court has sentenced 49-year-old Baekuni, alias Babe, to death for sodomy and the premeditated murder of four street children
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T
he Jakarta High Court has sentenced 49-year-old Baekuni, alias Babe, to death for sodomy and the premeditated murder of four street children.
The verdict was higher than that of the East Jakarta District Court, which sentenced him to life imprisonment.
East Jakarta District Court presiding judge Karel Tuppu told reporters on Wednesday that his office received a copy of the verdict on Wednesday from the high court.
“We will soon relay the information to the prosecutors and the defendant’s legal counsel,” Karel said.
On Jan. 8, Babe confessed after being arrested that he sodomized, killed and mutilated several boys between the ages of 10 and 12. Babe claims he killed 14 street children.
The high court panel of judges, consisting of Sumantri, Ahmad Subari and Rocky Panjaitan, said in their verdict that Babe’s actions were very cruel and inhumane as they were triggered by lust and a need to sodomize.
“The defendant’s actions disturb society, and there is nothing to excuse the defendant,” Karel said.
Prosecutor Trimo said he was satisfied with the verdict.
“A murderer of two to three people could be sentenced to death, so why did [Babe] a murderer of 14 people initially only get a life sentence?” Trimo asked.
Babe’s lawyer, Rangga B. Reikuser, said he did not know that the prosecutor had appealed.
“If the prosecutor appealed, why didn’t they let us know?” Rangga queried.
Baekuni was arrested in January and confessed to the four murders.
Local residents in his neighborhood said the 48-year-old came across as friendly to everyone, particularly the children.
He had claimed to have killed at least eight children since 2007. Later, he confessed to killing two others in 1995 and 2004. Baekuni claims he killed 14 street children.
Following the string of murders of street children, the Jakarta administration later announced it would ban children from working on the streets by the end of the year.
Street children whose parents have Jakarta ID cards may return to school or learn life skills at the city’s rehabilitation centers.
