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Cebongan accomplices get 21 months in prison
The Yogyakarta Military court slapped five commandos with sentences of 21 months in prison for assisting in the premeditated murders of four detainees at Sleman Penitentiary in Cebongan
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he YogyakartaMilitary court slapped five commandos with sentences of 21 months in prison forassisting in the premeditated murders of four detainees at Sleman Penitentiary in Cebongan.
The commandos were first sergeants Tri Juwanto, Anjar Rahmanto, Martinus Robertus Banani, Suprapto and Hermawan Siswoyo.
'The panel was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants played a part in the murders. They were also found guilty of torturing prison guards,' presiding judge Lt. Col. Farida Faisal told the court on Thursday.
According to the testimonies presented during the trial, the defendants assaulted the prison guards, broke the prison CCTV and caused damage to the door to the armory while their colleagues murdered the four detainees in another part of the prison.
The defendants' lawyer Lt. Col. Syarif Hidayat said he would file an appeal.
'My clients didn't know anything about killing prisoners and that is why I object to the ruling, which associates them with the murders,' he said.
Military prosecutor Lt. Col. Estiningsih said she would consult with her superior officers before commenting on the ruling.
The men were part of the 12-man group of commandos who, on March 23, murdered Hendrik Angel Sahetapy a.k.a Deki, Johanes Juan Mambait, Gamaliel Yeremianto Rohi Riwu and Adrianus Candra Galaja.
According to trial testimonies, the soldiers were seeking revenge for First Sgt. Sriyono who was beaten up by Marcel, a local thug, they believed the four detainees to be friends of Marcel.
The soldiers had apparently misidentified the 'enemies', as the men had been incarcerated because they had allegedly tortured First Sgt. Heru Santoso in a brawl at Hugo's Café.
