Reynhard Sinaga Case Being Handled since 2017: Ministry
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7 January 2020 09:17 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Foreign Affairs Ministry stated the Indonesian Embassy in London had given legal protection to Reynhard Sinaga, an Indonesian doctorate student in Britain who was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of sexual assault or rape.
"The Indonesian Embassy in London has handled the case of a citizen Reynhard Tambos Maruli Tua Sinaga (RS) since 2017-2020," said the ministry’s spokesman Foreign Ministry Spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir via a text message on Tuesday, January 7.
Arrmanatha explained that the trial process had been carried out in four different stages. At the last hearing on January 6, the judge recommended imprisonment of 30 years.
During the first to the fourth trials, Reynhard was found guilty of 159 offenses, viz. 136 rapes, 8 attempts on rape, 13 sexual violence, and 13 sexual assault with penetration.
According to Arrmanatha, the said legal protection carried out by the Embassy was to ensure that Reynhard had a lawyer and accompanied him during the series of trials. As for non-litigation protection, the Embassy held consular visits to RS during the prison time and facilitate family meetings and communication with Reynhard Sinaga and lawyers.
"The protection is carried out to ensure that RS receives his rights fairly in the local justice system," Arrmanatha said.
HALIDA BUNGA
