Bambang Muryanto and Slamet Susanto, Yogyakarta – A blast from a possible bomb and a clash between rival Muslim groups marked the sentencing of the Islamic Defender Front's (FPI) Yogyakarta branch chairman, Bambang Teddy, on Tuesday.
In the Yogyakarta District Court, Bambang Teddy was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended with a six-month probation, for assaulting and defaming a woman inside a supermarket.
The loud blast from the neighboring Mandala Krida Stadium was heard at about noon, not long after Bambang left the court. "It was very loud and thick smoke came out of it," said Jiwo, a street vendor 50 meters from the blast site.
No fatalities were reported, but the explosion damaged a tree and left street vendors operating in the neighborhood panicking. Yogyakarta Police's bomb squad were promptly deployed to sweep the area with metal detectors.
Yogyakarta City Police chief Sr. Comr. Mustakim said officers found a small motorcycle battery and a piece of cable, measuring between six and seven meters, at the site. This has raised suspicion that the blast could have come from a homemade bomb.
"There is a possibility that it was detonated from a distance of seven meters, but let's let the experts from the bomb squad decide," Mustakim said at the blast site. Police did not identify the person behind the explosion.
Bambang Subiyanto, a noodle vendor operating close to the explosion, said he did not recognize anything suspicious being placed in the area.
But he expressed suspicion about a man who sat near his stall and another man who stood under a tree. Both were wearing helmets.
At around the same time, supporters in the FPI leader's entourage were involved in a clash with supporters of the Islamic Jihad Front (FJI) in Demakijo, Sleman, as they both made their way home from the same court.
The FJI comprises supporters of Erna F Riyanti, who reported Bambang for assault and defamation. "We were blocked. We had to take one of our members to hospital because he broke his arm when he was hit with a stick," Bambang said after the clash.
FJI coordinator Abdulrochman denied the accusation. He said that when his group crossed paths with the FPI supporters, one of them fired an airsoft gun at his group and hit an FJI member, which resulted in the clash.
They finally dispersed after dozens of soldiers from a nearby military battalion broke up the fighting.
Separately, Sleman Police deputy chief Comr. Wahyu Agung Jatmiko said that he would facilitate a meeting between both parties in a bid to prevent bigger conflicts.
Bambang was convicted over last November's assault and defamation of Erna. The incident occurred after Bambang heard that Erna had asked his wife Sebrat Haryanti to pay off a debt to her.
Bambang met Erna in a supermarket, where he punched and spat on her. He also threatened and verbally abused her. "You are proven to be guilty as charged, but you don't have to serve the jail term," presiding judge M Nurzaman said during sentencing.
Bambang and the prosecutor said they were still thinking about whether to appeal. The session, as with previous hearings, was tightly guarded by police.