Three Kopassus special forces soldiers were found guilty, discharged from the military and jailed by a military tribunal in Yogyakarta on Thursday for the murders of four Cebongan prison inmates in a revenge attack that took place in March this year. Military prosecutors said 2nd Sgt. Sugeng Sumaryanto, 1st Corporal Kodik and 2nd Sgt. Ucok Tigor Simbolon were guilty of the murders of Adrianus Candra Galaga, Gamaliel Yermiayanto Rohi Riwu, Hendrik Angel Sahetapi and Yohanes Juan Mambait.

Ucok was sentenced to 11 years in jail, Sugeng eight years and Kodik was given a six-year term. “They have admitted their wrongdoing they apologized to the prison warden and have behaved well during the trial — their service during their term in the military was excellent,” said Lieu.Col Joko Sasmito, the presiding judge on the military panel. “However they committed a crime when they were supposed to be training.”

“It was carried out in prison and four people died, causing a deep wound for the victims’ families and a deep trauma for the prison warden and other inmates. They have tainted the military’s good name.” Lawyers for the disgraced soldiers said immediately that they would file an appeal as supporters of the men burned tires and protested outside the court.

We will update this story as it develops.



Koptu Kodik, Serda Sugeng Sumaryanto, dan Serda Ucok Tigor Simbolon