ABC AUSTRALIA, 17/03/2003 08:13:48
Indonesian cleric to challenge plans to hold him
Detained Indonesian Muslim radical Abu Bakar Bashir is preparing to challenge plans
to hold him after police changed their minds over the charges.
Mr Bashir, who is alleged to be the head of the militant Jemaah Islamiah group, was
arrested in October over links to church bombings in 2000 and a plot to kill President
Megawati Sukarnoputri.
But his lawyers say prosecutors have now changed the accusations against their
client to treason.
They have now begun a 115,000 US dollar lawsuit against the national police chief
over his arrest last year.
The court session for the case against the Jakarta prosecutors' office begins on
Monday.
Bashir has denied any ties to Jemaah Islamiah, the Bali bombings or any other
wrongdoing.
17/03/2003 08:13:48 | ABC Radio Australia News
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