Asia-Pacific News
Indonesian rock star goes on trial over sex videos
Nov 22, 2010, 8:20 GMT
Jakarta - An Indonesian rock star went on trial Monday, charged over two videos allegedly showing him having sex with two of the country's most famous models and TV presenters, media reports said.
If found guilty, Nazril Ilham, 29, could face a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison and a fine of up to 6 billion rupiah (678,000 dollars).
State prosecutor Rusmanto accused Ilham, popularly known as Ariel, of violating a controversial 2008 anti-pornography law, MetroTV reported.
The court hearing in the West Java capital of Bandung is closed to the public because the case involves video content that is considered immoral.
Ariel turned himself in to the police on June 22 after the videos became public.
They allegedly show Ariel recording sex acts with two popular celebrities - Luna Maya and Cut Tari.
The scandal has shocked Indonesia, a mainly Muslim nation where many people have conservative views on sex, and dominated local news.
The affair has been dubbed Peterporn, a play on the name of Ariel's rock band, Peterpan.
Indonesia has enjoyed relatively unfettered media freedom since the fall of autocratic president Suharto in 1998 after 32 years in power.
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