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View all search resultsLenient sentences given to soldiers who attacked North Sumatra village
The assault occurred on Nov. 8 last year, when dozens of soldiers from the Army’s Field Artillery Battalion 2/Kilap Sumagan stormed Selamat village in Sibiru-biru district, Deli Serdang regency. The troops reportedly broke into homes and physically assaulted residents.
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A stock illustration of the assault word highlighted in a dictionary. (Shutterstock/Casimiro PT)
T
wo soldiers from an Army battalion in Medan, North Sumatra, have been handed lenient sentences for their roles in last year’s attack on Selamat village, which left one villager dead and injured more than a dozen others.
The Medan Military Court sentenced Chief Private Saut Maruli Siahaan to seven months and 24 days in prison, and Chief Private Dwi Maulana Kusuma to nine months, after both were found guilty of assaulting several villagers during the incident.
The sentences closely matched the demands of the military prosecutor, who had sought eight months in prison for Saut and nine months for Dwi.
Saut was released immediately following the verdict, as his pre-trial detention was credited toward his sentence.
Presiding Judge Col. Rony Suryandoko cited several mitigating factors for Dwi and Saut, including their clean criminal records and the victims’ decision to forgive both soldiers.
“However, the court considered the fact that the defendants’ actions had damaged the reputation of the Indonesian Military [TNI] as an aggravating factor,” Rony said during sentencing.
Following the verdict, the soldiers and their legal counsel said they were still considering whether to file an appeal. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for next week.
