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Radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, leader of group behind Bali bombings, expected to walk free early

Source
Sydney Morning Herald - January 18, 2019

James Massola, Amilia Rosa & Karuni Rompies, Jakarta – The radical Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir will be freed from jail in a matter of days, according to a senior adviser in President Joko Widodo's campaign team.

The preacher was the spiritual leader of the terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, which committed the 2002 Bali bombings that killing 202 people including 88 Australians.

Australia urged Indonesia last March against any leniency toward Bashir, after a push for him to be granted early release gathered steam.

Bashir was initially convicted of conspiracy over his role in the 2002 Bali bombings but his conviction was overturned after he had served 26 months' jail and he was released in December 2006.

The 81-year-old was later convicted in 2011 of inciting terrorism and financing an Aceh-based terrorist cell and has served nine years of his 15 year sentence, meaning if released early, it will shave six years off of his sentence.

Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who is a legal advisor to the Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin presidential campaign team and who is also the chair of the Islam-leaning Crescent Star Party, claimed on Friday afternoon to have convinced the President to agree to the release of Bashir next week.

His early release, according to a post on Yusril's Facebook, was for humanitarian reasons and noted Bashir's declining health and advanced age.

"Abu Bakar Bashir has been in prison for nine years of a fifteen year sentence handed down to him. It is time for Bashir to be released without burdensome conditions. Jokowi believes that Bashir must be released due to humanitarian considerations," the post stated.

"Bashir is now 81-years-old and in declining health. Jokowi confirmed to Yusril that he was very concerned about the situation of Ustadz [Islamic leader] Abu Bakar and therefore asked Yusril to study, talk to and meet Abu Bakar Bashir in Mount Sindur prison."

"All talks with Bashir were reported by Yusril to Jokowi, so he was sure that there was enough reason to release Bashir from prison. Bashir is to be released next week" after paper work has been completed.

"After being released, Bashir will return to [the city of] Solo and will live in the home of his son, Abdul Rahim."

Yusril visited Bashir in the Mount Sindur prison, which is in Bogor, West Java, on Friday and the Facebook post was uploaded a few hours later.

There has been no official confirmation from any Indonesian government source that the release will take place.

A police source told the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that it appeared the release of Bashir was still being assessed by authorities.

Cabinet secretary Pramono Anung, a key advisor to the President, said – when asked if Bashir would be released next week – "I don't know".

Ade Kusmanto, a spokesman for Directorate-General of Corrections said he could not confirm Yusril's claim that Bashir would be released from prison next week.

He noted that on December 13, 2018, Bashir had served two-thirds of this sentence, which is one of the conditions for receiving parole.

But Bashir had not met all conditions required for parole, such as signing a written statement that he would not repeat his crime, he said, and nor had Bashir or his family or his lawyers filed for clemency.

Meanwhile, Associated Press reported that a lawyer for the radical cleric said the Indonesian government would release him from prison. The lawyer, Muhammad Mahendradatta, said on Friday the decision was made on humanitarian grounds.

In 2014, while in jail, Bashir pledged allegiance to the Islamic State though he later walked away from that pledge.

-- with AP

Source: https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/radical-cleric-abu-bakar-bashir-leader-of-group-behind-bali-bombings-expected-to-walk-free-early-20190118-p50sbd.html

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