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East Nusa Tenggara human trafficker sentenced to 6 years in prison
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Guilty: Abraham Louhenapessy alias Kapten Bram (right), a defendant in a human trafficking case, stands trial at the Baa District Court in Rote Ndao regency, East Nusa Tenggara on March 16. (JP/Djemi Amnifu)
T
he Baa District Court’s panel of judges sentenced Abraham Louhenapessy, 56, alias Kapten Bram, to six years in prison and ordered him to pay Rp 500 million (US$ 37,481.30) in fines or face an additional six months in prison after being found guilty of trafficking 65 immigrants to New Zealand.
The sentence was lighter than what had been demanded by prosecutor Alexander Selle, who asked the court to sentence him to nine years in prison.
“Based on facts and evidence presented during the hearings, the defendant has been found guilty of trafficking 65 immigrants to New Zealand in 2015. That’s why the defendant has been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, which will include time served in detention,” said presiding judge Hiras Sitanggang in the hearing on Thursday.
He said the crime committed by the defendant could spur the illegal dispatch of immigrants from Indonesia. Besides, he had previously been sentenced in a similar case.
Among factors that mitigated Abraham’s sentence included his good manners during the trial and that he admitted guilt, the judge said.
The prosecutor and Abraham’s lawyer, Yesaya Dae Pani, said they may consider appealing the verdict.
In its indictment, the prosecution said Abraham had received Rp 1.5 billion from Vishvanathan Thineskumar alias Thinesh alias Khugan, another defendant in the human trafficking case, to buy a boat and logistics for the 65 immigrants for their travels to New Zealand. (ebf)
