Victims want travel ban imposed on Anand Krishna

Anand Krishna: (Kompas/Roderick Adrian Mozes)

The legal team representing the victims of spiritual guru Anand Krishna said on Tuesday that it would urge the city prosecutor’s office and the Law and Human Rights Ministry’s immigration office to place a travel ban on Anand.

Last week, the Supreme Court handed down a 2.5 year prison term for Anand for sexual abuse charges, overturning the South Jakarta District Court’s not guilty verdict. The ruling said that Anand should serve his prison term as soon as possible.

“Anand is currently in Bali. His victims are afraid that he might flee abroad following the Supreme Court’s sentence. We will send a formal letter to the prosecutor and immigration offices immediately,” lawyer Theresia Purba told reporters at the Jakarta Police headquarters.

Theresia and her team were at police headquarters to present a bouquet of white jasmine as “a way to convey the victims’ gratitude toward the city police in the struggle to punish Anand Krishna.”

“We deeply appreciate the city police chief and the police’s Women and Children Protection Unit [PPA] for compiling Anand’s case dossier right up to the appeal at the Supreme Court,” said Agung Mattauch, another lawyer in the team.

The white jasmine bouquet was also given to the Supreme Court and the city prosecutor’s office, he said.

Anand was convicted of violating Criminal Code Articles 290 and 294 on sexual harassment. The Supreme Court found that he was guilty of making sexual advances toward Tara Pradipta Laksmi, one of his followers, in 2009.

Tara filed her accusation with police in February 2010 and the first trial against Anand took place six months later. (lfr)