T

he South Jakarta District Court has found five men guilty of committing minor crimes in the bloody Ampera riot, and has sentenced them to up to five years’ imprisonment.

Of the five defendants, Norman Anderson, Stef Frederik Kale, Viktor Oksinus Wado and Samuel Paulus (alias Kevin) were sentenced to three years in prison, and Yan Safenora Lena received five years.

Presiding judge Kusno said Yan had been handed down a longer prison term because “he was the mastermind behind the Ampera riot.”

Yan was primarily charged under Article 170 of the Criminal Code for inflicting violence on others. He was also charged under Article 1 of Law No. 12/1951 on the illegal use of firearms.

The defendant was found guilty only of the secondary charges.

After hearing the verdict, Yan said he would accept the court’s decision.

Viktor said that he would use the one-week period to ponder whether or not he would appeal the verdict.

Another defendant in the case, Hero Nggily, was found not guilty by the panel of judges and was granted immediate release from detention.

A bloody riot erupted on Sept. 29 in front of the South Jakarta District Court, before a hearing related to a brawl at Blowfish nightclub.

The supporters of Blowfish staff member and defendant Bermandus Maela clashed with the victim’s supporters outside the court.

During the clash, three people died and scores of others were seriously injured.

Four defendants were implicated in a deadly brawl in Blowfish and Kitchen in South Jakarta in April 2010.

Defendants David Too, Rando Lili, Bernardus Malela and Kanar Lolo were found guilty of violence that caused the death of two people in a scuffle at the bar.

According to the judge, the heavy sentence was warranted due to the defendants’ untoward behavior at trial and that the four’s actions had “disturbed the public”.

Prosecutors previously asked that the defendants, none of whom had prior convictions, be sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.

South Jakarta Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Budi Irawan said 800 police officers had been deployed to safeguard the trial.

“We are just preparing to prevent a similar riot from taking place,” Budi said at the South Jakarta District Court. (aaa)