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Papuan teenager gets four months in jail for having a knife in his own home
Pacenus Heluka, a 16-year-old high school student, has been sentenced to four months in prison after the police found a small kitchen knife in his pocket during a raid on the boy's house in Wamena, Papua.
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A 16-year-old high school student was sentenced to four months in prison after the police found a small kitchen knife in his pocket during a raid on the boy's house in Wamena, Papua. (Shutterstock/Dan Henson)
P
acenus Heluka, 16, was sitting at home in Wamena when the police burst in on Oct. 23 on a hunt for those involved in the deadly unrest in the Papuan city a month before.
He and his two friends – Terianus and Demianus – were arrested at the house around midnight.
"During the arrest, the police searched Pacenus’s body and found a small kitchen knife in his pocket," Pacenus' lawyer Mersi Waromi said.
The three were taken to the police office for investigation for their alleged involvement in a Sept. 23 anti-racism protest that turned violent and claimed the lives of 33 people.
After two days of investigation, the police released Pacenus’ friends.
Pacenus, meanwhile, remained in police custody until his trial on Nov. 11, in which prosecutors demanded 10 months of prison for violating Article 2 point 1 of the 1951 Emergency Law, which prohibits carrying a sharp weapon – in this case, the small kitchen knife.
On Nov 21, judge Ottow Siagian sentenced Pacenus – a student at SMA Negeri 1 Wamena state senior high school – to four months in prison.
