Jakarta – The Central Jakarta District court sentenced Hidayat Lukman, alias Teddy Uban, to five months in jail plus 10 months probation for assaulting Tempo weekly news magazine journalist Ahmad Taufik.

Hidayat, one of those who attacked Tempo, was charged with violating Article 335 of the Criminal Code, as he allegedly encouraged others into acts of violence against Tempo journalists. The charge carries a maximum punishment of one year in jail.

The verdict was lighter than the prosecutor's demand, which had asked the court to sentence him to six months imprisonment with nine months probation.

Some 200 supporters of tycoon Tomy Winata staged a violent demonstration on March 8 at the Tempo offices on Jl. Proklamasi, Central Jakarta, protesting against a Tempo article titled Ada Tomy Di Tenabang (There is Tomy in Tenabang), which suggested Tomy was somehow involved in the Tanah Abang market fire in February.

Presiding judge Sunarjo was of the opinion that the demonstration did not constitute an attack because no physical damage was involved.