Makassar – A police officer charged with beating the 17-year-old boy accused of stealing his sandals was sentenced to 21 days behind bars by a police tribunal on Thursday.

First Brig. Ahmad Rusdi Harahap received a written warning, a one-year delay on possible promotion and 21 days detention for ethics violations in abusing the teen and two of his friends in early 2011, Adj. Comr. Soemarno of the Central Sulawesi Police said.

The verdict comes one day after the teen, identified as A.A.L., was judged guilty of stealing the sandals but released from any further punishment. He had been facing up to five years in prison for the theft.

The case caused a public uproar and led to a nationwide protest that saw hundreds of people donating used sandals in a tongue-in-cheek rebuke of what was seen as an irrational and heavy-handed prosecution.

A.A.L. was accused of stealing the sandals in November 2010. Six months later he and two friends were picked up by police and reportedly beaten.

Despite Ahmad's sentence on Thursday, A.A.L.'s lawyer, Johannes Budiman, said the case was not finished. Johannes said that further charges may be brought against the officer in a district court.

"We're not in a rush as we still have to concentrate on filing an appeal on A.A.L's case," Johannes said. (JG/Antara)