APSN Banner

Indonesia jails terror suspects for 10 years each

Source
Agence France Presse - February 21, 2011

An Indonesian court sentenced two Islamic extremists to 10 years in prison on Monday for their involvement in a terror cell known as Al Qaeda in Aceh.

Police say the group was training to carry out Mumbai-style attacks involving squads of suicide gunmen targeting Westerners, political leaders and police in Indonesia.

One of the extremists, Qomarudin, alias Mustaqim, 37, stood up and shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest) when his sentence was read out.

Chief judge Mutarto told West Jakarta district court Qomarudin had provided training in map reading and firearms at a militant camp discovered by police in Aceh province in February last year.

A second militant, Luthfi Haidaroh alias Ubaid, 32, was convicted of raising funds for firearms and supplies. "The defendant used training video footage to raise money from supporters," the judge said.

Prosecutors had sought sentences of 15 years imprisonment for each of the defendants.

Hundreds of suspected militants have been arrested or killed in connection with the Aceh network, including its alleged operations leader Dulmatin, a notorious bomb maker wanted for the 2002 Bali attacks which killed 202 people.

Dulmatin, previously a leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah network blamed for the Bali bombings, was shot dead by police in March last year.

Al Qaeda in Aceh's alleged spiritual leader and chief financier, radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, is on trial for his suspected role. He denies the allegations.

Country