Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – A riot that caused the death of North Sumatra Council speaker Abdul Azis Angkat in February was premeditated, and had been detected by intelligence agents two days earlier, witnesses in court said Tuesday.

During the trial of Djoko Subiyanto, one of 16 suspects accused of inciting the Feb. 3, 2009 riot, two witnesses – Abdul Muluk Siregar and Elmadon Ketaren – said they had been informed of the planned unrest and had notified the chief councilor.

Elmadon, a local executive from the Golkar Party, said the violent demonstration that pushed for the formation of a new Tapanuli province, had been planned.

"I was contacted (on my cell phone) by an intelligence agent telling me there would be an anarchistic demonstration by people (supporting the creation of a Tapanuli province) at the North Sumatra provincial council," he said at the trial presided over by judge Indra Waldi at the Medan District Court, North Sumatra.

Elmadon said he then promptly passed on the information to Azis, but Azis was determined to go to the council building to chair a plenary meeting. The meeting was scheduled to swear in three interim council members and to pass three local ordinance bills.

Abdul Azis Angkat died of a heart attack hours after he was set upon by the mob who were protesting the council's decision to postpone a plenary meeting to discuss the formation of Tapanuli as a new province on Sumatra island.

Muluk, a close friend of Azis and Elmadon, said he had received the same information about the plan to incite violence during the demonstration from another intelligence agent.

He called Azis immediately, asking him not to attend the plenary meeting. Muluk said Azis did not respond positively to his call. Muluk, who was present when the riot occurred said Azis had phoned North Sumatra Governor Syamsul Arifin, asking him for advice on whether he should stay in the meeting room during the riot.

The governor told Azis to stay, Muluk said. "Azis informed the North Sumatra governor that the situation in the council building had become serious. However, the governor advised Azis to continue his job," he said.

Muluk said Azis finally left the council meeting after several minutes of standing firm. Protest leaders then forced him to sign a letter stating his agreement to the establishment of Tapanuli province.

"When he left the building the crowd of protesters started to attack and beat him," Muluk said.

Azis's adopted son, Agung Wibowo Angkat, who was also a witness, said he saw marks of severe scratches on his father's back. He said his late father had a medical history of heart problems, but claimed his father "probably would have survived had he not been beaten by the mob".

The judges adjourned Djoko's trial until Thursday, when they will hear from more witnesses from the prosecution.