TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The panel of judges of Sleman District Court have sent two Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar) followers Eko Purnomo and Veni Orinanda to two years and one year in prison, respectively, for kidnapping dr. Rica Tri Handayani.
The two have been convicted for using Quran verses as persuasion trick against the victim, who ever since has been traumatized.
The jail term was much less than 7 years term prosecutors sought. Prosecutors said that defendants have been found guilty of kidnapping. It was not an ordinary one as it has led to social unrest and disorder. The case was triggered by former Gafatar followers program of hijrah (a spiritual journey). Thousand of people had moved to Mempawah in West Kalimantan for a better life as taught by Gafatar.
The defendants will decide if they want to appeal in a week’s time. “We will dicide whether to appeal or not in a week’s time,” defense lawyer Jeremias Lemek said.
MUH SYIFULLAH