Dance Yanu has been sentenced to seven months and 16 days by a judge at the Manokwari court after being found guilty of makar (subversion).
Reporting the verdict, one of the defence lawyers, Simon Riziard Banundi, said that they were not convinced about the court's verdict. 'We members of the defence team cannot accept the verdict passed by the judges. There is every reason to doubt their decision.'
Banundi said that his client should be released because the court failed to prove that he was guilty of makar (Rebellion or Subversion charges). The defendant's colleague Melkianus Bleskadit has been found guilty of makar.
In a previous hearing at the court, the prosecutor asked for a sentence of five years. Dance Yenu was arrested together with Melkianus Bleskadit as they were unfurling a flag on the anniversary of Melanesian independence day on 14 December 2010.