Yuli Krisna, Bandung – The Bandung High Court has rejected the appeal filed by Peterpan frontman Nazril Irham against his conviction on pornography charges, a judge said on Monday.

Presiding Judge Sjam Amansjah said the high court upheld the lower court verdict sentencing the pop star, also known as Ariel, to three and a half years in prison for violating the country's strict Anti-Pornography Law.

"The decision of the Bandung District Court is considered correct and the high court reaffirms the verdict," Sjam said, reading from the ruling, which was dated April 19. "Ariel will remain in prison," the judge added.

The singer was convicted of distributing pornography in January, months after tapes of him having sex with girlfriend Luna Maya as well as TV presenter Cut Tari circulated on the Internet. He is serving his sentence at Kebonwaru Penitentiary in Bandung.

Sjam said the court had taken "popular opinion" into consideration when it rejected the appeal. "We considered the people's opinion, especially [the reactions] of those who were present during the court proceedings," he said.

Islamic hard-liners, who were present throughout the trial at the district court, pelted Ariel with rotten eggs and tomatoes as he entered and left the courtroom the day the verdict was handed out.

Muslim groups objected to the sentence, insisting it was too lenient for the crime of "ruining the country's morals."

Ariel can still file an appeal with the Supreme Court.

Bandung District Court head Joko Siswanto said the singer should file an appeal within seven days after receiving a copy of the high court's ruling.

"If they don't appeal within that time, then the high court's decision becomes the final and binding decision," he said, adding that the document had not yet reached Ariel's legal team.

The high court also rejected the appeal of Reza Rizaldy, also known as Redjoy, a former Peterpan employee who found the sex tapes on Ariel's laptop and handed the files to a third party. Prosecutors said Reza's cousin, Anggit Gagah Pratama, uploaded the videos, but he was not charged.

Reza, who confessed and showed remorse during his trial, was sentenced to two years in jail for distributing the videos. "We will soon hand over the court documents so [Reza and Ariel] can consult with their lawyers on their next step," Joko said.