APSN Banner

Indonesian cleric gets 10 years for funding terror

Source
Jakarta Globe - November 4, 2010

Adhe Bhakti, Jakarta – The West Jakarta District Court on Thursday sentenced hard-line cleric Eko Budi Wardoyo to 10 years in prison for his involvement in gunning down a priest in 2004 and the 2005 bombing of a market that killed 22 people, both in Central Sulawesi.

Eko was ruled to have provided funding to the perpetrators of both acts of terrorism, and to have given other assistance. In the first case, the shooter, Basri, who has since been convicted, fired into a packed Efata Church in Palu, Central Sulawesi, during Sunday service on July 18, 2004, instantly killing the Rev. Susianti Tinulele and wounding four others.

The judges in Jakarta found that Eko had given Basri an envelope filled with money as well as a motorcycle to flee the scene after the shooting.

The incident was among a string of attacks on churches across Indonesia that took place between 2000 and 2004.

In the second case, Eko was ruled to have given Mujadid and Ardin Janatu, both now behind bars, money to assemble and detonate two bombs at Tentena Central Market in Tentena, Central Sulawesi, on May 28, 2005.

The attack killed 22 people and wounded at least 90. A similar market bombing in December of that year killed eight and injured 45 in Palu.

Eko's sentence was five years shorter than prosecutors had sought. "I accept the sentence. I have no plan to appeal," he said.

Meanwhile, in a separate case being heard at the same courthouse on Thursday, a witness testifying at the trial of two suspected Aceh militants said the pair had been "preparing for all-out war."

Yudi Zulfahri and Agam Fitriadi were among those captured during raids in February on a militant training camp in the Aceh foothills.

Yudi is also believed to have frequently contacted Dulmatin, previously Indonesia's most wanted terrorist and alleged mastermind of the camp, who was later killed in a shootout with police.

Ubaid, also arrested in relation to the camp, testified at Yudi's and Agam's trial that the armed group, which he said was funded in part by firebrand cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, had been training to attack key targets across the country, but did not elaborate.

He also said Yudi had often traveled to Jakarta to "coordinate strategy" with Dulmatin.

Ubaid himself is believed to have raised up to Rp 1 billion ($112,000) in donations for the group and is scheduled to stand trial for his role in the camp within the coming weeks.

Country