An Indonesian pop star who rocked the nation when sex tapes he made with celebrity girlfriends appeared online has been sentenced to 3-and-a-half years in jail.
Nazril "Ariel" Irham, lead singer of the band Peterpan, was found guilty today of violating the country's strict anti-pornography law.
Presiding Judge Singgih Budi Prakoso told the court the star made the videos with two girlfriends and did nothing to prevent their wide distribution on the internet.
The judge said Ariel also showed no remorse. In addition to jail time, Ariel was fined $US25,000.
The sentence drew howls of outrage from the singer's fans in the court and across the Malay-speaking world, while the "freeariel" hashtag shot to the top list of global trending topics on microblogging site Twitter.
The trial has made headlines and dominated chatter on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter for more than three months. Fans insist he did nothing wrong, making the tapes in the privacy of his own home. But Islamic hard-liners warned that his actions had contributed to the country's moral decline.
The 29-year-old – who said the videos were stolen and posted online without his knowledge – was the first celebrity to be found guilty of violating the country's strict anti-pornography law that went into effect in 2008. His sentence – well short of the maximum 12 – angered hundreds of protesters who gathered outside.
"As a public figure, the defendant should be aware that fans might imitate his behaviour," Prakoso said, adding that Ariel, lead singer of the group, Peterpan, also showed no remorse.
Indonesia, a secular country of 237 million people, has more Muslims than any other country in the world. Though most are moderate, a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years.
They have pushed through controversial laws – like the anti-porn bill – and attacked anything they perceive as blasphemous, from transvestites and bars to 'deviant' religious sects.
Some of the demonstrators who turned out on Monday pelted the police vehicle carrying Ariel to the court with rotten eggs and tomatoes. Others held placards criticising the star.
"I have three daughters," said Kurnia Maryati, a 33-year-old pharmacist, as she straightened out her headscarf.
"To me, pornography is even more dangerous than drugs. Just think of the school boys watching those videos," she said. "Next thing you know, they'll be imagining their female teachers naked!"
The videos were made public in June. The first six-minute clip showed Ariel in bed with his girlfriend Luna Maya, a top model, actress and, until the scandal, the face of Lux beauty soap. The second clip showed him with a former girlfriend, also a well-liked model and television presenter. (with AFP)