T

he Semarang District Court on Wednesday sentenced a husband, Teguh Irwandaru, to six years in prison for setting his wife on fire.

The sentence was more lenient than the prosecutors'€™ recommendation of seven years imprisonment for Teguh, who considered an appeal.

'€œThe defendant [...] has committed physical violence against his wife and is sentenced to six years in prison, reduced by the detention period,'€ presiding judge Supriyono said when reading out the verdict on Wednesday.

Teguh, not accompanied by a lawyer, was charged with Article 44 (2) of Law No 23/2004 on the eradication of domestic violence, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine of Rp 30 million (US$3060).

The violence took place after Teguh was summoned by the local police after reports filed by his two children: TBH, 11, and RD, 8, alleging that the defendant was frequently violent toward them and their mother.

Angered by the summons, Teguh set his wife on fire using gasoline and matches. She is now suffering from a permanent disability and is still undergoing outpatient treatment.