Bashir Faces Death Penalty With New Charges: Trial Set for Early Next Year

The case of firebrand Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, charged with multiple counts of terrorism punishable by death, was on Monday handed over to prosecutors in preparation for his trial, which is expected to start early next year.

The 72-year-old is accused of leading and financing the paramilitary training activities of a group of suspected militants in Aceh who were the target of a series of raids early this year.

“He’s been charged under at least five articles in the antiterror law,” said Yusuf, the South Jakarta chief prosecutor.

“The most serious is mobilizing people for acts of terrorism, which carries the death sentence.”

Bashir was brought to the district prosecutor’s office under tight guard, escorted by two armored vehicles and dozens of armed officers from the police counterterrorism unit.

Police handed over dozens of firearms and a stack of documents as evidence against the cleric.

“We’ve verified the evidence, including handguns, rifles, ammunition for various firearms such as AK-47s and M-16s, recorded phone conversations, money and copies of bank transfers,” Yusuf said.

“We’ve also interrogated the suspect — he was fit and able to answer questions. He signed a statement protesting his interrogation and arrest.”

Yusuf said 32 prosecutors would have 60 days to prepare the case for trial, during which time Bashir would remain in police custody.

Bashir’s lawyer, Achmad Michdan, said the cleric had denied having anything to do with the evidence aside from a cellphone that was seized by police during his arrest on Aug. 9.

Another of his lawyers, Luthfie Hakim, said the terrorism charges against Bashir were being laid at the behest of foreign governments and pointed out that his client had twice been tried for terrorism in the past, but was acquitted on both occasions.

Bashir himself protested his innocence and said the case against him was part of a wider campaign against Islam.

“Islamic teachings are being terrorized,” he said before being returned to the National Police’s detention center.

National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafly Amar said police would hold a press conference in Solo, Central Java, on Tuesday to release more details about Friday’s arrest of Abu Tholut, who is believed to have been the trainer for the Aceh militant camp and had been the country’s most wanted terrorist suspect.

“We’ll give a full explanation on Tuesday, including about the arrest of Sukirno in Jombang, East Java, who allegedly provided shelter for Abu Tholut,” the spokesman said.

Bashir acknowledged Tholut had once worked at the cleric’s Jamaah Anshorut Tauhid, a hard-line organization that calls for Shariah law to be implemented across the country, but said Tholut had left due to ideological differences.

“Tholut is a holy warrior,” Bashir said on Monday.

Bashir was previously tried on charges related to the 2002 Bali bombings and the 2003 bombing of the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta.

He was sentenced to two and a half years for his role in a “sinister conspiracy” in the Bali bombings but cleared of charges related to the hotel attack. However, in 2006, the Supreme Court overturned his terror conviction.

The new charges against him stem from claims made by three of his alleged followers that Bashir persuaded them to fund the Aceh militant camp.

All three are accused of raising and providing at least Rp 350 million for the camp after Bashir allegedly told them, on separate occasions, “We are launching a program of major jihadi activities. If you have extra money, you can donate to us and the biggest returns will come from God.”

The Aceh camp was widely believed to be planning Mumbai-type attacks on key targets, including the president and state guests during Independence Day ceremonies at the State Palace in August.

sourch: thejakartaglobe.com