The Jakarta Post, July 01, 2004
Suspect played no role in terror attacks: Medan court
Apriadi Gunawan, Medan
A district court here acquitted on Wednesday a terror suspect of all charges of
involvement in the 2000 church bombings on Christmas Eve in Medan, North Sumatra.
The defendant, Awaluddin Sitorus alias Abu Yassar, 34, was not proven to have
played a role in the terror attacks, the Medan District Court said.
Prosecutors had recommended 10 years imprisonment for Awaluddin, charging him
with violating Article 1 (1) of Emergency Law No. 12/1951.
However, the panel of judges said there was insufficient evidence found against the
defendant after at least 19 witnesses, presented by the prosecutors, testified before
the court.
None of the witnesses admitted to having seen the suspect at the Padang Bulan
Protestant church on May 28, 2000 at the time of the bombing, in which 36 people
were injured, they added. No fatalities were reported.
Toni Togar, another defendant in the same case who was presented as a key witness,
told a previous trial that Awaluddin was not in Medan but on the island of Batam when
the blast took place.
Judge Binsar Gultom said the link between Awaluddin and the church attacks was
weak, as the prosecutors failed to present four other key witnesses also accused of
involvement in the blast.
They were the alleged Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Hambali, currently being held by
the United States, Faiz Bin Abubakar Bafana, being detained in Malaysia, convicted
Bali bomber Imam Samudra and his accomplice Nasrullah who is still at large.
"The prosecutors should have been able to present the key witnesses in the trial
because Awaluddin admitted he once met with them in Medan," Binsar said.
He said that Awaluddin also confessed to have voluntarily helped Hambali and Imam
Samudra find a rented house in Medan,
However, Binsar added, Awaluddin along with Toni and Nasrullah had reportedly been
ordered by the late Jabil Akim to bomb three churches in Medan, including the GKPI
Padang Bulan. The identity of Jabil was not clear.
Awaluddin also admitted to having received Rp 4 million from Faiz Bin Abubakar
Bafana for transportation to gather their accomplices for a meeting at Ibunda Hotel to
discuss the riots in Maluku province. The forum was attended by Hambali and
Samudra.
Responding to the court verdict in favor of the defendant, prosecutor Nilma Lubis said
his office would appeal to a higher court.
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