"The defendant was proven guilty and therefore sentenced to six years in prison. He will also pay a fine of Rp500 million, failing which he will serve an additional two months in jail," Presiding judge Lieutenant Colonel (Chk) Mochamad Afandi said.
Madiun, East Java (ANTARA News) - A military court in Madiun, East Java, on Monday sentenced Indonesian Military Personnel Second Sergeant Ilmun Abdul Said, 36, to six years in jail for smuggling immigrants.

The defendant was also fined Rp500 million and dismissed from the military service due to his actions.

"The defendant has been found guilty of human smuggling and has violated Article 120, paragraph 1, of Law No. 6/2011 on Immigration, in conjunction with Article 55, paragraph 1, of the first book of the Criminal Justice Act. There is a minimum penalty of five years' imprisonment and a maximum of 15 years for this, along with a minimum fine of Rp500 million and a maximum of Rp1.5 billion," Presiding judge Lieutenant Colonel (Chk) Mochamad Afandi said.

"The defendant was proven guilty and therefore sentenced to six years in prison. He will also pay a fine of Rp500 million, failing which he will serve an additional two months in jail," he added.

The judge`s verdict was two years lighter than what the public prosecutor had demanded. However, the fine imposed on the convict was much bigger than the Rp100 million demanded by the prosecution.

The judge also dismissed the defendant from military service on grounds that the defendant "embarrassed Indonesia in the eyes of the world".

In the wake of the judge's verdict, Ilmun immediately filed an appeal after consulting his legal representative. "I appeal against the judge's decision," he said.

At the court, Ilmun`s wife was crying and unable to speak after seeing her husband dismissed from military service.

Ilmun was a village supervising officer (Babinsa) at Sokobanah District Military Command, Sampang. While engaging in human smuggling, he was assisted by four of his colleagues - Second Sergeant Major Cornelius Nama, Chief Corporal Karyadi, Vice Lieutenant Susiali, and Master Sergeant Khoirul Anam.

Cornelius was a Babinsa at Bluto District Military Command, Sumenep, while Karyadi, Susiali and Khoirul were serving as Babinsa members at Besuki District Military Command, Tulungagung.

Legal proceedings on the four military personnel are still ongoing. Ilmun led the team and divided the money made from smuggling activities among his accomplices.

Besides the five army servicemen, three civilians were also involved in the smuggling activities.

The racket smuggled hundreds of Middle Eastern immigrants to Australia through Popoh and Klatak beach, Tulungagung and Prigi Beach, Trenggalek, in 2011.

It was exposed after a freighter sank in Prigi waters on December 17, 2011. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012