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Minor acquitted, another four imprisoned for soccer fan's death
Judge Suwanto acquits 16-year-old because of a lack of evidence.
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A suspect (right) accused of soccer hooliganism participates in a crime scene reconstruction in Gelora Bandung Lautan Api in Bandung, West Java, on Sept. 26. Haringga Sirla, a fan of Persija Jakarta, was beaten to death by Persib Bandung supporters, minutes before a Liga 1 match between Persija and Persib in Bandung on Sept. 23. (Antara/Raisan Al Farisi)
T
he sole judge presiding over a trial at the Bandung District Court in West Java of five minors accused of violence that resulted in the death of Haringga Sirla, 23, acquitted one on Tuesday but found the remaining four guilty and sentenced them to between three and four years’ imprisonment.
Haringga, a fan of the Persija Jakarta soccer club was beaten to death by fans of the rival Persib Bandung team prior to a match between the two clubs.
Judge Suwanto acquitted a 16-year-old because there was a lack of evidence of his involvement in the crime.
“No one saw him do the beating. He was there as he was being pushed and was saved by a witness,” Suwanto said. He added that another witness testified the 16-year-old stood two meters away from the victim during the attack, meaning that it was impossible for him to have participated in the beating from such a distance.
The judge justified the prison sentences he gave to the remaining four by arguing that they would serve as a great lesson.
“What they did caused the victim’s death. Imprisonment is not a form of revenge but a lesson to make them better persons,” he said.
The remaining four, who ranged in age from 14 to 17, were given three to four years in prison as per the Criminal Code and the Child Protection Law.
Leksidarma, the lawyer who represented the convicted minors, said he was considering whether to appeal the ruling. (swa/swd)
