TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Jail time sought for teens accused of killing soccer fan
Half of the 14 suspects who allegedly beat a soccer fan to death during a match in Bandung, West Java, are minors. Prosecutors have demanded jail terms for two of them.
Change Size
People visit the grave of soccer fan Haringga Sirila in Indramayu, West Java. Haringga, a Persija supporter, was beaten to death by a rival group of fans during a match between Persib Bandung and Persija Jakarta. (Antara/Dedhez Anggara)
P
rosecutors from the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) have demanded that two teenagers -- who are accused of beating 23-year-old Persija Jakarta fan Haringga Sirla to death in Bandung, West Java, on Sept. 23 -- be imprisoned.
They want the defendants, identified as SMR, 17, and DFA, 16, to be sentenced to four and three-and-a-half years behind bars, respectively, for their alleged involvement in the incident that led to Haringga’s death.
“Therefore, we demand that the perpetrators should be punished for their wrongdoings,” prosecutor Edi read out the sentence demand letter at the hearing in Bandung on Tuesday.
Both are still minors according to Indonesian law.
Read also: Death of Persija fan at hands of Persib hooligans sparks outrage
The lawyer for both defendants, Dadang Sukmawijaya, said SMR and DFA had unintentionally got involved in the incident because they were caught up in the moment.
“We have to look carefully at the atmosphere at the time of the incident, which had engulfed these children. The conditions at that moment should be included in the [judge’s] consideration,” Dadang added.
Both defendants pleaded guilty.
Dadang added that he hoped the judge would make a fair ruling in the case because both defendants were still minors.
The police named 14 suspects in the case, half of whom are minors. The trial of five other suspects will start on Thursday. (kuk/wit)
