Munarman Sentenced To 3 Years In Prison, Lawyers File An Appeal

Munarman's attorney at the East Jakarta District Court/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

JAKARTA - Defendant Munarman, former General Secretary of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) was sentenced to three years in prison in the case of alleged criminal acts of terrorism by the panel of judges at the East Jakarta District Court, Wednesday 6 April.

"The trial stated that the defendant Munarman was legally and convincingly proven to have committed a criminal act of terrorism. Sentencing the defendant in the form of three years in prison", said the panel of judges.

The punishment is by Article 13 Jo Article 7 which has been stipulated into Law Number 15 of 2003 concerning Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 1 of 2002 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism to become Law Jo of Law Number 5 of 2018 concerning amendments to Law 15 of 2003 concerning the stipulation of Perppu Number 1 of 2002 on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism.

It is known, that the verdict is lower than the demands of the Public Prosecutor (JPU) against Munarman, which is eight years in prison.

After the trial, Azis Yanuar, Munarman's legal team, said that his party would appeal because according to him many facts were not appropriate.

"What is clear is that it is an undeniable fact that it is proven here that Munarman is not a terrorist. He was sentenced to Article 13, namely withholding information. He was sentenced to three years. We will definitely appeal because many facts are not appropriate", Azis told reporters, Wednesday, April 6.

According to Azis, when he heard the verdict from the panel of judges, Munarman's facial expression was normal.

"We, Mr. Munarman's legal team, have accompanied this process and started with patience until now. This means that we are patient with everything that doesn't make sense, so we are relaxed and normal. We have predicted the setting like this", he said.

Azis stated that his client was proven not to be a terrorist.

"What is clear is that Munarman is proven not to be a terrorist because the article does not mention the article regarding a person committing a terrorist crime but hiding information", he said.

The trial process for Munarman's verdict took place under strict guard from 550 joint personnel. Officers in full official attire and casual clothes were deployed to safeguard the sentencing hearing.

East Jakarta Metro Police Chief, Commissioner Budi Sartono said his party had deployed a combined force of 550 personnel to secure the trial of Munarman's verdict.

"There is 550 joint personnel from Brimob Metro Jaya Police, Sabara Metro Jaya Police, Sabara East Jakarta Metro Police, Cakung Sector Police, Civil Service Police Unit, and East Jakarta Military District Commander", Commissioner Budi told VOI, Wednesday, April 6.

In addition, his party also deployed several tactical vehicles in the context of securing the trial of Defendant Munarman. One water canon, he continued, was also alerted.

"We have tactical vehicles, starting from the security barrier, we also have a water Canon, we have prepared a water Canon, as well as tactical vehicles", he said.