Two councilors jailed for gambling

Wed, 04/02/2008 1:56 AM  |  The Archipelago

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Under a ruling from the Supreme Court, two Ruteng legislators have been sentenced to six months in prison for gambling.

"We are only executing the Supreme Court's decision," said Ruteng Prosecutor's Office head Joko Pandam on Tuesday.

Joko said five councilors were involved in the case but only two of them, Bonafasius Uha and Florianus Kampul, had so far been convicted, while rulings on the other three councilors were still pending.

"We will send (the others) to jail too if the Supreme Court sends a conviction ruling," said Joko.

The five councilors were caught gambling in one of their houses in early 2005. The Ruteng District Court put them on probation for a year, but the prosecutor's office appealed the case to a higher court.

The provincial high court in 2007 strengthened the district court's ruling and the five accused were free to carry out their duties as councilors.

The case was then appealed to the Supreme Court. -- JP

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