5 soldiers likely to get jail terms for people smuggling

AP/Lionel CironneauFive soldiers from the Brawijaya Military Command could face between five and 15 years in prison and dishonorable discharge from their respective corps for alleged involvement in the smuggling of people from Middle East countries.

Brawijaya Military Police chief Col. Budi Purwono said the men had been charged under Law No. 6/2011 on immigration and the Military Criminal Code.

“In relation to their violations of the Military Criminal Code, we will charge them for abusing authority and disobeying orders, which carry a maximum sentence of five years in jail,” Budi told The Jakarta Post.

The five soldiers have been identified as Chief Warrant Officer Sosiali, Chief Sgt. Choirul Anam, Chief Cpl. Kariadi, Second Sgt. Cornelis Nama and Second Sgt. Ilmun Abdul Said.

The case came to light after the Brawijaya Military Command received a report on Dec. 22, 2011 from the Tulungagung Military District Command related to the alleged role of its soldiers in the smuggling of people from the Middle East who were attempting to reach Australia via Indonesia. The report was made after the Barokah vessel carrying hundreds of asylum seekers capsized in Prigi waters, Trenggalek, East Java, on Dec. 17. Hundreds of passengers went missing and only 48 people were saved by local fishermen, who also recovered 84 bodies from the sea.

Brawijaya Military Commander Maj. Gen. Murdjito said the five soldiers had been named suspects and were currently detained at the Brawijaya Military Command's detention center.

Murdjito said the soldiers would likely be discharged.

Besides the soldiers, East Java Police have named five other suspects in the case: Bambang Sugianto and Nuriyanto, the boat owners; Ronald Mesak, Sudirman, boat crewmen; and Budi Santoso, a staffer of the Besuki Tulungagung Military subdistrict.