Banda Aceh – Since marshal law came into force in Aceh on May 19, 2003, the Banda Aceh Military Court I/01 has handed down verdicts on 90 legal cases involving 120 TNI (armed forces) officers. Those who have been punished are not just officers from the Iskandar Muda territorial military command (Kodam), but also from military operational units at the district level (Korem).
Following a ceremony to mark the 52nd anniversary of the army’s legal corps on Monday March 1, the head of the Banda Aceh I/01 Military Prosecuting Attorney’s office, Major Yonavia, explained to journalists that nearly all of these 90 cases represented common crimes committed by officer such as theft, violence, rape and the collection of illegal taxes.
The Banda Aceh I/01 Military Court organises hearings at two locations, Lhokseumawe (North Aceh) and Banda Aceh. The court hearings of officers from Korem 0011/Lilawangsa are held in Lhokseumawe he explained, while the hearings of those from Korem 012/Teuku Umar are held in Banda Aceh.
Yonavia said that of the 90 cases in which verdicts have been handed down and which have involved 120 officers, the heaviest sentence was 3.6 years in jail and dismissal from their post in a case of rape. Meanwhile, the lightest sentence was 45 days in jail in a case of gambling.
This represents an effort by the TNI to enforce the law. “There are no reasons for the TNI not to enforce the law, even under a state of emergency”, he said. Furthermore added Yonavia, the presence of the TNI is Aceh is not to hurt the Acehnese people but to restore security and to wipe out the Free Aceh Movement.
“If there are officers who behave wantonly we will continue to take action [against them], right there, there is the evidence [of our commitment to enforce the law], we have already convicted 120 officers through the legal authority of verdicts by the military courts. Which in the end [is where] the enforcement of the law is upheld”, he explained.
Meanwhile, the ceremony to mark the anniversary of the legal corps which was attended scores of officers and troops from the Banda Aceh Military Tribunal proceeded somberly. Acting as the master of ceremonies, the head of the Iskandar Muda Kodam Legal Group, Lieutenants Colonel M. Simamora, said that the legal corps played a role in legal enforcement by improving professionalism in the legal field.
As part of ceremony, the Banda Aceh I/01 Military Court burnt material evidence in the form of 4.25kg of marijuana in the grounds in front the offices of the military court. (su)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
