Indonesian Singer, Ariel Peterpan Granted Parole

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya BANDUNG (Indonesia), July 23 (Bernama) -- Singer Ariel Peterpan was released at 9am Monday from prison after serving two-thirds of his three and a half year jail sentence for distributing pornographic video. The 31-year-old vocalist of the Peterpan music group was accorded the conditional release by authorities because of his good behaviour. Among the conditions set for his release were that he should not repeat the offence and to report himself at the prison on a routine basis pending his absolute release on Sept 21 2013. News of his release spread fast. Journalists, photographers and TV cameramen, as well as fans began gathering at the main gate of the Kebon Waru Prison as early as 8.30am to celebrate his release. Some of the fans shed tears of joy upon seeing Ariel being brought out of the prison in a car. However, they could not get a glimpse of the singer, as the car had dark-tinted wind-screen, as he was taken to the Bandung Prosecutor's Office to sign the documents for his parole. After that, the white car carrying Ariel, escorted by a police patrol car, left the prosecutor's office to an unknown destination. Ariel is schedule to call for a media conference at a hotel here later Sunday. Ariel, whose real name is Nazriel Irham, was sentenced to three and a half years jail and fined US$26,469 (Rp250 million) by the Bandung District Court on Jan 1 last year after he was found guilty of distributing pornographic video, starring himself and two female artistes. It was the first proceeding in the Indonesian court involving a pornographic case. -- BERNAMA