Indonesian court sentences gang leader to death over rape and murder of girl
THE leader of a gang of men and boys who raped and murdered a school girl in a case that caused public outrage in Indonesia has been sentenced to death amid the government’s move to introduce heavier penalties for sex crimes committed against children.
An Indonesian court in Sumatra Island on Thursday (Sept 29) sent the leader, who was only identified as Zainal, to the gallows while his four accomplices were jailed 20 years for the attack on the 14-year-old girl.
Anaknya Dihukum Mati, Orangtua Bos Pemerkosa Yuyun Syokokz.me/WYzX
Local reports said a group of 14 men, including eight boys, were involved in the gang rape on the remote Island. The youngest attacker was only 13-year-old.
According to Reuters, sexual crime against women in the fourth-most-populous country is common but cases of gang rape are rare.
In reading out the sentencing, presiding judge Henny Faridha was quoted by Reuters as saying that: “Because of the sadistic nature of the crime … the court sentences Zainal to death.”
Langsung Tembak »"@SINDOnews: Zainal Pemerkosa dan Pembunuh Yuyun Dijatuhi Hukuman Mati sin.do/1gm0
On April 2, the victim, Yuyun, was gang-raped and murdered while she was on her way home from school. Her body was discovered dumped in a river at a rubber plantation in a small village of the Bengkulu Province, Sumatra, two days after the incident.
The case had prompted President Joko Widodo to introduce new regulation that would see harsher punishment being meted out against child sex offenders, including chemical castration and the death penalty. This came following demands by women’s groups for the government to pass an Elimination of Sexual Violence Bill.
On May 21, another teenager’s body was found dumped in a river in Pamelang, Central Java, after she and a friend were raped by a group of 12 drunken men a week before.
In the wake of these cases, Jokowi pledged to “arrest and punish the perpetrators as severely as possible”, adding that “women and children have to be protected from violence”.
The new regulation has yet to be approved by Parliament. The proposed heavier punishments have triggered a divisive debate between the Jokowi administration and opposition lawmakers, including human rights, civil society groups, who have questioned the efficacy of the sentences.
Salah Satu Terdakwa Pemerkosa Yuyun Dituntut Hukuman Matidlvr.it/MD4m2K
The remaining gang members in Yuyun’s case were earlier sentenced to 10 years in prison while another was ordered to undergo a year-long rehabilitation programme. Police said another suspect is still on the run.
Yuyun parents, who attended court for the sentencing, said it was inadequate given the severity of the crime.
Breaking down into tears, the victim’s mother, Yana told reporters: “They should all get the death penalty.”
