Family members of assault victim try to attack convicted perpetrator in court

Unrest broke out Thursday in Gowa District Court, South Sulawesi, during the reading of the verdict for a case of assault that led to the death of a student. Around 50 of the deceased student’s family members, dissatisfied with the verdict, tried to attack the convicted perpetrator.

The judges sentenced Indrawan Tri Nugraha, a second year student of the Institute of Public Administration (IPDN) in Bandung, to six years and six months in prison – six months longer than the prosecutors’ demand.

“The defendant is proven convincingly to have caused the assault leading to the victim’s death,” judge Muhammad Asri said.

Ashadi, a second year student, died last September due to bleeding in the brain stem.

The assault occurred when Ashadi and Indrawan were playing billiards in South Sulawesi. Ashadi, who lost the game, was obliged to perform push-ups as a punishment according to the agreement the two made before.

Indrawan hit Ashadi on the chest, causing the latter to fall and bump his head, thus causing the bleeding.

The family members demanded that Indrawan be given the death sentence because they believed the incident to be premeditated murder.

Dozens of police officers held the group back while judges and Indrawan were led to exit the court room through a back door.