Indonesian court sentence two officials for negligence during a stampede that killed 135 people
BBC's Gary Lineker, former England striker, refuses to budge in conflict of ideals over refugees
The verdict is Indonesia's first ruling on the tragedy. Moments later, security official Suko Sutrisno was also found guilty of negligence and sentenced to one year in prison. Prosecutors had also sought six years and eight months in his case.
The judge said Sutrisno "did not anticipate the chaos because there had never been an emergency situation before". He also "did not understand his job as a security official well", the judge added.
Cholifatul Noor, a mother who lost her 15-year-old son in the tragedy, said the sentence was too lenient and was hurtful to families of the victims.
"I am not satisfied with the verdict because this concerned many lives, not just the life of one or two people," she told local channel Metro TV tearfully.
A lawyer representing another family who lost two children told AFP that prosecutors must appeal.
"If they don't it will prove that justice is out of reach for the families," Imam Hidayat said.
Sutrisno's lawyer denied his client did not do his job properly and said he is an expert in his field who had been working in the profession since 2008.
The security official has previously said he did not have the authority to open the doors of the stadium when the crush took place.
oth men, dressed in white shirts in court, have seven days to appeal.
Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 11:16 am