Heru Andriyanto & Mohd Adhe Bhakti – The third criminal trial of radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir paints a portrait of the cleric as a man bent on turning Indonesia into an Islamic state by any means necessary, in particular through the use of a radical organization and a paramilitary training camp in Aceh.

"The purpose of the terror is to spread panic and to divide the people and the ruling government, thus paving the way for a takeover," prosecutor Muhammad Taufik told the court at the opening of the trial on Monday.

Seemingly afraid to again lose the case against Bashir, prosecutors linked him to the murder of police officers and a deadly bank heist in Medan, along with the main charge of financing the Aceh camp and mobilizing militants.

"I don't know what they're talking about," Bashir said after the indictment was read.

The 72-year-old cleric is facing three counts of funding terrorist activities; two counts of illegal possession of firearms; a charge of mobilizing and inciting people to commit acts of terrorism; and a charge of using violence with intent to inflict human casualties. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

"The indictment has been designed to function like a trawl net," said Achmad Michdan, an attorney for the cleric. "Prosecutors put all they could into their indictment so as to not allow any loopholes for my client."

Sidney Jones, a security analyst from International Crisis Group, said charges against Bashir were much stronger than in two previous trials in which he narrowly avoided lengthy jail terms. "The authorities have a wide range of evidence to prove that Bashir raised funds for the Aceh paramilitary training camp and the money was used to buy weapons," Jones said.

Radical organization

Prosecutors introduced Bashir as the co-founder and leader of Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid, a fundamentalist group whose aim was to establish an Islamic state in Indonesia. Founded on Sept. 17, 2008, JAT acknowledges a single leadership, in this case Bashir, whose orders should be interpreted as the word of God and his prophet, the indictment says.

Sometime in July 2009, Bashir told his followers that "before waging jihad, we must first occupy a territory, albeit small, and gain full control of it," Taufik told the South Jakarta District Court.

The accused was said to have provided the rationale for robbery and murder as necessary in order to fund jihad, calling it fa'i (spoils of war).

"The defendant said... fa'i is directed against infidels and the governments who observe Islam but do not apply Islamic Shariah laws," Taufik said. To establish an Islamic state, Bashir recommended terrorist attacks using automatic weapons and bombs, he added.

Aceh camp

Prosecutors said Bashir was approached by Dulmatin, a terrorist suspect who has since been killed by police, to set up a base in Aceh for paramilitary training. Bashir appointed Abu Tholut, now in police detention, to take charge of the Aceh camp while Dulmatin acted as field coordinator.

After the camp was established, Bashir began collecting funds from donors assisted by Ubaid, aka Luthfi Haidaroh, a former member of JAT who is currently being tried separately.

Bashir told the backers, "We have a jihad program that needs lots of money. If you have extra revenue, please donate to us," according to prosecutors.

The pair allegedly collected Rp 1 billion ($112,000) from various donors and the money was used to buy weapons and ammunition and to finance the running of the Aceh camp. Ubaid was believed to be responsible for managing the funds (see graphic).

Although he never visited the Aceh camp himself, Bashir was regularly updated with video recordings of the paramilitary activities and was given reports on the number of participants and the need for more donations, the indictment said.

From Aceh, Dulmatin allegedly sent Bashir a message about a plan to establish a larger group called Tandzim Al Qaeda Serambi Makkah, which was to be led by the cleric. "The defendant agreed with the plan," prosecutors said.

Police had said earlier that the Aceh camp was to be used for a Mumbai-style attack on the president during Independence Day ceremonies at the State Palace in August, but the indictment did not mention that allegation.

Murder and robbery

Tip-offs from local residents in the forests of Aceh Besar alerted police to the camp, which was raided in February last year.

The trainees and their commanders were scattered by the raid and, while on the run, they killed police officers and robbed a bank in Medan. In shootouts with police in March, 25 members of the group killed three policemen and injured 11 others.

A smaller group of fugitives robbed the Newnet Internet cafe in Medan and wounded three people. In August, another robbed a CIMB Bank branch in the city, killing a policeman, wounding two guards and getting away with Rp 340 million, the indictment said.

Excessive security

Hundreds of Bashir supporters, who faced off against 1,500 police officers and armored vehicles outside the courthouse, complained that the security provided for his trial was excessive. Bashir said the tight security was only for show and "to portray me as a big terrorist."

So will the charges stick or can the Teflon cleric escape punishment a third time? ICG's Jones says the key is for prosecutors to prove Bashir collected funds for the training camp.

Bashir's camp was given 10 days to prepare its defense. The trial will resume on Feb. 24.