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    Indonesia military chief calls for capital punishment against accused soldiers

    ANN/THE JAKARTA POST – Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Admiral Yudo Margono called for the three soldiers accused of torturing and murdering a civilian in south Jakarta to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, including being handed life sentences and even the death penalty.

    TNI spokesperson Rear Admiral Julius Widjojono was quoted by Antara as saying, “With regard to the assault that led to the death of the victim and was alleged to have been committed by a member of the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres), the TNI commander has expressed concern and he has called for severe punishment.

    “The maximum punishment should be the death penalty, at the very least, life in prison.”

    Three TNI personnel were arrested over the weekend for the alleged abduction and murder of shopkeeper Imam Masykur, an Aceh native in Rempoa, South Jakarta. The perpetrators allegedly abducted Imam and demanded a IDR50 million (USD3,270) ransom from the victim’s family.

    Julius also said that the three soldiers would be dismissed from the corps if they were found guilty by a court martial. An audio and video recording of Imam calling his parents asking for the ransom money has made the rounds on social media, prompting widespread outrage.

    Members of Imam’s family filed a report with the Jakarta Police on Saturday, shortly after receiving the call.

    Upon receiving the report, the Jakarta Military Police moved to arrest three suspects in the case, identified only as RM and O and another soldier, whose initials have not been released.

    RM is a member of Paspampres while O is stationed at the Iskandar Muda Military Command in Aceh. The unidentified soldier is a staff member of the TNI topography division.

    Human rights group Amnesty International Indonesia (AII) condemned the alleged kidnapping incident, and called for a speedy investigation of the case.

    “We want a speedy and fair probe into the incident, so that we can be assured that human rights abuse will not be tolerated,” AII executive director Usman Hamid told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

    Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Admiral Yudo Margono. PHOTO: THE JAKARTA POST

     

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