An Indonesian court Tuesday sentenced Antonius Wamang from Papua province to life in prison for orchestrating an armed ambush that killed two U.S. citizens and an Indonesian near a gold mine of a U.S. firm in Papua.

The presiding judge at the Central Jakarta District Court, Andriani Nurdin, said Wamang was guilty of premeditated murder and handed a life sentence instead of 20 years as demanded by prosecutors.

The judge panel said the crime is also a gross violation of human rights.

The defendant showed no remorse during his trials and has committed to the "obstruction of justice" by always refusing to attend the hearings, the panel said.

Prosecutors also have recommended jail terms ranging from eight years to 15 for six other defendants for the similar case.

The ambush took place in August 2002 near the mine of U.S. firm Freeport in Timika district.

The attacks also injured eight U.S. citizens and three Indonesians, all worked for the mining firm.

Prosecutors' indictment said the assailant group received order from Kelly Kwalik, leader of the Free Papua Movement.

Wamang has also been indicted by the U.S. jury in June 2004 on two counts of murder and eight counts of other related offenses and attempted murder.

Source: Xinhua