Indonesia jails pop star over Internet sex videos scandal
Source: Agencies |
February 1, 2011, Tuesday
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ONE of Indonesia's best-known pop stars was sentenced yesterday to three and a half years behind bars after sex tapes with his celebrity girlfriends found their way onto the Internet, riveting and dividing this predominantly Muslim nation.
Liberals said the embarrassment suffered by Nazril "Ariel" Irham - who insists the videos were not intended for public viewing - was punishment enough. But hard-liners were outraged, saying the singer was contributing to the country's moral decline.
Hundreds charged the gates of the courthouse in the city of Bandung after the verdict was read out, yelling "Too light! Too light," as he sped off in an armored police car.
Police fired warning shots to break up a scuffle between his supporters and critics.
Ariel, lead singer of the country's most popular band, Peterpan, was the first celebrity to be charged under Indonesia's strict anti-pornography law, which came into effect in 2008 despite strong opposition from the public and members of government.
It is seen by many as vaguely worded and as carrying overly harsh penalties.
Ariel insists the tapes were stolen from his house and posted online without his knowledge, but presiding Judge Singgih Budi Prakoso said the pop star did nothing to prevent them from spreading online.
He sentenced him to three and a half years in jail - well short of the maximum 12 years - and slapped him with a US$25,000 fine.
"As a public figure, the defendant should be aware that fans might imitate his behavior," Prakoso said, adding that the frontman for Peterpan - which is also popular in neighboring Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei - did not show remorse.
His supporters were left devastated by the verdict.
"He's just a victim," said Roslawati, 30, as tears streamed from his eyes. "He didn't post that video."
The videos were first made public in June last year.
The first clip purportedly showed Ariel in bed with his girlfriend, Luna Maya, a model and actress who joined him at the court yesterday. She broke down in tears when the ruling was read out.
The second clip showed him with a former girlfriend, also a well-liked model and television presenter, Cut Tari.
The clips were spread on Facebook and YouTube and distributed by mobile phone rapidly, prompting the government to try to impose an online filter for porn.
Liberals said the embarrassment suffered by Nazril "Ariel" Irham - who insists the videos were not intended for public viewing - was punishment enough. But hard-liners were outraged, saying the singer was contributing to the country's moral decline.
Hundreds charged the gates of the courthouse in the city of Bandung after the verdict was read out, yelling "Too light! Too light," as he sped off in an armored police car.
Police fired warning shots to break up a scuffle between his supporters and critics.
Ariel, lead singer of the country's most popular band, Peterpan, was the first celebrity to be charged under Indonesia's strict anti-pornography law, which came into effect in 2008 despite strong opposition from the public and members of government.
It is seen by many as vaguely worded and as carrying overly harsh penalties.
Ariel insists the tapes were stolen from his house and posted online without his knowledge, but presiding Judge Singgih Budi Prakoso said the pop star did nothing to prevent them from spreading online.
He sentenced him to three and a half years in jail - well short of the maximum 12 years - and slapped him with a US$25,000 fine.
"As a public figure, the defendant should be aware that fans might imitate his behavior," Prakoso said, adding that the frontman for Peterpan - which is also popular in neighboring Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei - did not show remorse.
His supporters were left devastated by the verdict.
"He's just a victim," said Roslawati, 30, as tears streamed from his eyes. "He didn't post that video."
The videos were first made public in June last year.
The first clip purportedly showed Ariel in bed with his girlfriend, Luna Maya, a model and actress who joined him at the court yesterday. She broke down in tears when the ruling was read out.
The second clip showed him with a former girlfriend, also a well-liked model and television presenter, Cut Tari.
The clips were spread on Facebook and YouTube and distributed by mobile phone rapidly, prompting the government to try to impose an online filter for porn.
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