- Title: Indonesia court jails woman for 20 years for poisoning friend
- Date: 27th October 2016
- Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (OCTOBER 27, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** COURT SESSION IN PROGRESS POLICE AT BACK OF COURT JUDGES (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) PRESIDING JUDGES, KISWORO, SAYING: "We are here to declare that Jessica Kumol alias Jessica Kumala Wongso alias Jess has been proven guilty of premeditated murder. Second, we are sentencing the suspect to 20 years in prison." LAWYERS LISTENING TO VERDICT JESSICA KUMALA WONGSO LISTENING TO THE VERDICT WONGSO APPROACHING HER LAWYERS WONGSO TALKING TO HER LAWYER, OTTO HASIBUAN MEDIA END OF COURT SESSION / WONGSO HUGS OTTO HASIBUAN WONGSO STANDS FOR MEDIA WITH HER LAWYER TEAM WONGSO LEAVES THE COURT ESCORTED BY GUARDS MEDIA SURROUNDING HASIBUAN (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) JESSICA KUMALA WONGSO'S LAWYER, OTTO HASIBUAN SAYING: "We have formally appealed against the decision and will see what happens in the new hearing." MEDIA SURROUNDING THE VICTIM WAYAN MIRNA SALHIN'S FATHER, DERMAWAN SALHIN (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) WAYAN MIRNA SALIHIN'S FATHER, DERMAWAN SALIHIN SAYING: "I respect the law, this is the judges' decision, and we will follow the development of the case wherever it goes." VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF CENTRAL JAKARTA DISTRICT COURT
- Embargoed: 11th November 2016 12:14
- Keywords: Indonesia court australia murder poison verdict
- Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
- City: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
- Country: Indonesia
- Reuters ID: LVA00155S6P1H
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: An Indonesian court on Thursday (October 27) sentenced a woman to 20 years in prison on charges of murdering her college friend by poisoning her coffee.
Jessica Kumala Wongso, 27, an Indonesian citizen and permanent resident of Australia, was found guilty of premeditated murder in a case that has gripped the country for months.
"We are here to declare that Jessica Kumol alias Jessica Kumala Wongso alias Jess has been proven guilty of premeditated murder. Second, we are sentencing the suspect with the punishment 20 years in prison." presiding judge Kisworo said to applause from a packed courtroom.
Wongso, wearing a white shirt and black pants, remained expressionless while hearing the verdict, but made a brief statement afterwards.
She said that the judge decision was unfair and one-sided.
"We have formally appealed against the decision and will see what happens in the new hearing," head of Wongso's lawyer team Otto Hasibuan said.
The two women met at a cafe in a central Jakarta mall when victim Wayan Mirna Salihin collapsed on the floor, and went into convulsions after drinking a cyanide-laced coffee, according to prosecutors. She died by the time she arrived at hospital.
"I respect the law, this is judges' decision, and we will follow the development of the case wherever it goes." Salihin's father, Dermawan Salihin said to media.
Dozens of police were positioned around the Central Jakarta courtroom as crowds scrambled to get in to hear the verdict. The trial had heard testimony from a string of forensic and psychological experts and the case has generated headlines since Wongso was arrested earlier this year.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo's administration said Wongso would not be executed if she got the death penalty, according to media. The deal was made with Australia in order for Australian police to assist in the investigation.
Australia does not have the death sentence and opposes its use in other countries. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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