“The defendant Achiruddin Hasibuan is found not guilty of the crimes charged against him in the prosecutor’s indictment,” Judge Oloan Silalahi stated, reading out the verdict on Monday.

The judge also ordered the items seized as evidence to be returned to Achiruddin.

Upon hearing the verdict, Achiruddin prostrated himself in prayer on the floor of the courtroom.

Prosecutor Randi said he was still considering whether to appeal the acquittal or not.

State prosecutors had demanded that Achiruddin, who had been a middle-ranking police officer, be sentenced to six years in prison and a fine of Rp 50 million (US$3,144) for illegally hoarding diesel fuel in April, which was found during a raid by North Sumatra Police at the defendant’s house on April 27.

In September, Achiruddin was sentenced to six months in prison by Medan District Court for negligence as he did nothing to prevent his son Aditya Hasibuan assaulting 19-year-old university student Ken Admiral in December last year. The sentence was lighter than the initial prosecutor’s demand of 21 months’ imprisonment.

Medan District Court in September sentenced Aditya to 18 months in prison and to pay a fine of Rp 52.3 million for the assault.

North Sumatra Police dishonorably discharged Achiruddin in May for failing to intervene in the assault. (ami)