BALI, February 02, 2011: Dozens of people protested in front of Bali Police headquarters in Denpasar on Tuesday over what they said was the light jail sentence given to a man convicted of stealing hundreds of Hindu statues and murtis.<\/p>\n
Protesters from two Hindu groups, Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia and Sandhi Murti, gathered outside the headquarters with banners reading ‘Respect the religious beliefs of Bali’s people’ and ‘Panel of judges and prosecutors must defend Bali or get out.’<\/p>\n
They demanded that Roberto Gamba, an Italian national sentenced to five months in prison for the thefts, be given a heavier punishment. ‘The sentence is too light. It’s a reflection of how Bali allows itself to be treated disrespectfully by foreigners,’ protest coordinator Wayan Semara Cipta said.<\/p>\n
Gamba is scheduled to be released from prison today as the five-month sentence included the time already spent in jail since he was detained in September.<\/p>\n