2 Untirta Students Become Defendants Of Burning The Serang City Police Post

SERANG - Two students from Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University (Untirta) are now defendants in the alleged burning of the Traffic Police Post at the Ciceri red light, Serang City, Banten Province.

In a follow-up hearing at the Serang District Court (PN), Tuesday, the two students were Fathan Nurma arif alias Ewok (21) from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), and Jonathan Rahardian Susiloputra (22) from the Faculty of Law (FH).

Both were charged with burning police posts during a demonstration against the repressivity of the DPR apparatus and allowances on August 30, which is estimated to cost the Serang City Police around Rp150 million.

"We deeply regret why the police have not succeeded in uncovering the mastermind who provoked or even the person who set fire to the police post," said Fathan's lawyer, Rizal Hakiki, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, November 4.

According to him, Fathan and other students who were prosecuted were those who were provoked by intellectual actors who failed to be disclosed by the authorities.

Another attorney, Rohadi, asked the panel of judges to consider this action as a spontaneity triggered by the provocateur.

"He was not initiated but there was a provocateur. There was a Molotov cocktail throw before Fathan threw gasoline," he said.

He also hopes that the Public Prosecutor (JPU) will give light demands.

The trial also presented a number of witnesses. Witness Michelle Parada said the riots began at around 15.30 WIB when she saw a Molotov bomb explosion that triggered a fire and provoked the crowd.

According to Michelle, after the Molotov cocktail was thrown, Fathan was provoked by pouring gasoline. He also testified that he saw an unknown man break into the post gate and burn photos of the National Police Chief, who was increasingly sparking mass emotions.

Untirta Student President, Ferdansyah Putra, who is also a witness, confirmed the presence of an unknown man who opened the door to the police post. He also confirmed that there had been sparks from the Molotov cocktail before Fathan added gasoline.

"There was already a fire (from the Molotov cocktail) before adding gasoline from Fathan," said Ferdan.