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Mastermind behind tax officers’ murders gets life sentence
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Nias Police hold a reenactment of the murders of two taxmen in Gunungsitoli, Nias, North Sumatra, in May 2016. (Kompas.com/Hendrik Yanto Halawa)
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unungsitoli District Court in Nias, North Sumatra, sentenced 45-year-old Agusman Lahagu, the main player behind the murder of two tax officers, to life imprisonment on Tuesday, the stiffest sentence meted out for such a crime in the country’s history.
The prosecutor had demanded the death penalty and has appealed the sentence.
The panel of judges declared Agusman, a rubber trader, guilty of murdering two tax officers, identified as Toga Parada Fransriano Siahaan 30, and Sozanalo Lase, 35, in April last year.
(Read also: Two tax officers stabbed to death while on duty)
“The judges also sentenced four other people involved in the murder, namely Bedali Lahagu, alias Ama Yusu, Anali Zalukhu, alias Ana, Desima Lahagu, alias Dedi and Budi Rahmat Gulo, alias Rama,” the Taxation Directorate General wrote in a statement issued on Tuesday evening.
Bedali Lahagu, who is Agusman’s younger brother, was sentenced 20 years in prison, while the judges handed down 10 years’ imprisonment to the three other defendants, who were Agusman’s employees.
The two tax officers were stabbed to death while attempting to collect taxes from Agusman during a meeting that turned into a quarrel.
Shortly after the incident, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo responded by calling on to the police to investigate the case thoroughly.
Toga worked in the tax collection division at the Sibolga tax office, North Sumatra, while Sozanalo was a contract employee at the Gunungsitoli tax consultation and counseling office. (tas)
