T

he Pekanbaru District Court sentenced Mardijo alias Klewang, a motorbike gang leader, 58, to six years in prison on Tuesday for vandalizing an Internet café on Jl. Kepala Sawit in Pekanbaru, Riau. The sentence was heavier than the sentencing demand of four years.

Presiding judge Reno Listowo declared Klewang guilty of inciting his gang members to attack Dinzy Internet café to search for members of another motorbike gang.

They smashed the café's windows, damaged two computers and two motorcycles parked in front of the café.

'Klewang violated Article 170 of the Criminal Code on assault and Article 169 on taking part in a group to commit crimes,' said Reno.

'Klewang should not have done this at his age. He is supposed to set a good example to his young members,' he said, adding that Klewang had previously been imprisoned three times.

Klewang's lawyer, Asmanidar, said the sentence was too harsh.

Klewang also objection to the verdict. 'I cannot accept this. Other motorbike gang members were sentence only eight to 10 months in prison. Why did I get heavy sentence?' he asked.

Klewang is a notorious gang believed to have committed a number of crimes, including rape, in Pekanbaru.