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Ratna gets two years in prison for faking attack
The South Jakarta District Court on Thursday sentenced political activist Ratna Sarumpaet to two years in prison for spreading false information and stirring chaos among members of the public.
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Ratna Sarumpaet (center) attends the first hearing of her trial at the South Jakarta District Court. The court on Thursday sentenced the political activist to two years in prison for spreading false information and stirring chaos among members of the public. (The Jakarta Post/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he South Jakarta District Court on Thursday sentenced actress-cum-political activist Ratna Sarumpaet to two years in prison after finding her guilty of spreading a hoax and stirring public confusion.
Ratna, a renowned opposition figure, grabbed national headlines last year when, to cover up the fact she had just had facial surgery, she falsely claimed that she had been attacked by unidentified assailants.
Before Ratna herself admitted that she had been lying, opposition leaders, including losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, insinuated that the reported attack against Ratna had been politically motivated.
Prabowo was quick to apologize for helping to spread Ratna’s lie.
The 64-year-old was found guilty of violating Article 14 of the Criminal Code, which stipulates that any person who is convicted of intentionally spreading misinformation and stirring public confusion is subject to a maximum of 10 years in prison.
“The defendant has been proven guilty and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment,” presiding Judge Jony said during the trial.
On Oct. 2 last year, a picture depicting Ratna’s swollen eyes and bruised face circulated on the internet and went viral.
