Indonesia pop singer jailed for making sex tape

One of the biggest pop stars in Southeast Asia has been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for manufacturing and distributing sex videos over the internet.

A court in Indonesia convicted Nazril Irham (known to the public as Ariel), making him the first celebrity charged and convicted under Indonesia's strict pornography laws which came into effect in 2008.

The verdict against the 29-year-old singer stated he was found guilty of giving an opportunity for others to spread, produce and prepare a pornographic video, according to the verdict.

The charge carried a maximum 12-year sentence and a fine in excess of $600,000.

As a public figure, the defendant should be aware that fans might imitate his behavior, said Judge Singgih Budi Prakoso.

Fans of the celebrity reportedly broke down in tears after the guilty verdict was announced in the courtroom.

However, hundreds of demonstrators outside the court, many of them hard-line Muslims, agitated for a tougher sentence.

Ariel allegedly made three sex videos including himself and two female celebrities, but he denied distributing them, claiming they were stolen.