T

he Semarang District Court has sentenced three men to jail for conspiracy and for illegally detaining 5 Japanese citizens.

F. Kirdar Untung, Riyono and Sabarno were sentenced to five-months-and-five-days imprisonment under Article 333 and Article 55 of the Criminal Code

Two other defendants, Casnoto and M Ali Tafrihan, were acquitted due to a lack of evidence.

“I am just a victim of the authorities, investors and the police apparatus and have been criminalized for refusing to develop PLTU Batang,” Tafrihan said upon his acquittal, referring to a steam power plant.

 Tafrihan called on the police to serve and protect the community.

The case emerged when a team of investors from Sumitomo Corporation visited Ponowareng in Batang, Central Java, to survey the location for the PLTU Batang in September.

The team comprised Satoshi Sakamoto, Kunimoto, Sakarmoto and Tanimoto and driver Khalis Wahyudi.

The court said that the defendants brought the team to Casnoto’s house and were reported to the police by Sakamoto and Khalis for detaining them.

Local residents have opposed construction of the plant, fearing damage to their fields and the surrounding environment.