TEMPO.CO, Jayapura – General prosecutor Sukanda is seeking four months' imprisonment and a fine of Rp2 million (US$166.5) for two French journalists: Thomas Charles Dandois, 40; and Marie Valentine Louise Bourrat, 29.
“Both of them are proven to have violated their stay permits,” Sukanda said when reading the indictment against the two journalists at First Class A Court in Jayapura, Papua, on Thursday, October 23, 2014.
The trial began at 3.00 p.m. local time by questioning expert witnesses and defendants. The trial was later adjourned and continued at 5.00 p.m. for indictment reading.
During the trial, the journalists’ laywer, Yoseph Adi Prasetyo from the Press Council, requested the the journalists be immediately deported as opposed to being imprisoned.
Presiding judge Martinus Bala also conducted a trial to question both journalists. At the court, Dandois and Bourrat apologized for the violations and hoped that they could soon be freed and return to their country.
CUNDING LEVI
