Semarang (ANTARA News) - The Semarang District Court on Tuesday sentenced Syihabudin, a man involved in a sectarian riot in Temanggung last February, to one year in jail minus time in preventive detention.

The chief of the panel of judges, Edy Tjahjono, when reading the verdict here said the defendant had been convincingly proven of instigating people to carry out destructive acts

"This sentence is given based upon facts unveiled in court sessions and judges` conviction," he said in the company of members of the team of judges Dolman Sinaga and Wiwik Suhartono.

He said the defendant`s actions had hurt a lot of people and caused damage to public facilities and created public unrest.

Upon hearing the verdict and after consulting with his lawyers Syahbudin said he would appeal it.

He said after the session that the verdict was unfair and that he had been a mere victim of engineering.

The prosecutor, Sugeng, had also demanded one year in prison for the defendant.

The rioting in Temanggung occurred on February 8, 2011 after the local court sentenced Antonius Richmond Bawengan to five years in jail over a case of religious desecration which was considered too lenient by some.

Due to the incident some churches, a Christian school and some motor vehicles were damaged.

Syihabudin who was believed to be the main actor behind the rioting was convicted for violating Article 160 of the Criminal Code on instigation.(*)

(H-YH/B/HAJM/14:40/f001)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011