The North Jakarta District Court yesterday handed a 3-year prison sentence for dangdut star Saipul Jamil, who was found guilty of molesting a 17 year-old male fan earlier this year.
“[The accused] is sentenced to 3 years in prison, to be detracted from the current custody period,” said presiding judge Ifa Sudewi at the sentencing hearing yesterday, as quoted by Merdeka.
The sentence is considerably lower than what the prosecutors sought, which was a 7-year prison sentence and a Rp 100 million fine. The prosecutors have not yet decided on an appeal.
Even so, Saipul’s family and fans, who reportedly crowded the courtroom, said they were devastated by the sentence.
“Of course, we the family are very saddened by the judge’s decision. Ipul’s (Saipul Jamil’s nickname) fans are also saddened. I can say that all those who came and cried [after the sentencing] are Ipul’s true fans, not paid spectators,” said Saipul Jamil’s brother, Samsul Kawi, as quoted by BeritaSatu.
Um, who assumed they were paid spectators? Now we’re suspicious.
In any case, Saipul Jamil and his fans should perhaps consider themselves lucky since the dangdut singer escaped the heavy punishments for child molesters, like chemical castration and the death penalty, which the government introduced recently to prevent sexual assaults against children.
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