ABC AUSTRALIA, 15/10/2004 18:52:01
Indonesian prosecutors file new charges against Bashir
Indonesian prosecutors have filed new charges against cleric Abu Bakar Bashir.
The South Jakarta state prosecutor, Didik Istiyanta, told Reuters newsagency the
charges have been submitted to the South Jakarta court.
He says details of the charges will not be available until the trial.
The AFP news agency says prosecutors are expected to focus on Bashir's alleged
leadership of Jemaah Islamiyah, an extremist group authorities say has ties to al
Qaeda.
Authorities accuse Jemaah Islamiyah of various attacks last month's bombing outside
the Australian embassy in Jakarta, which killed nine people, the 2002 Bali bombings,
which killed 202 people, and last year's JW Marriott hotel suicide attack, which killed
12.
Bashir has always denied he is linked to terrorism.
Bashir was cleared by an appeal court last year of involvement with Jemaah
Islamiyah, although he remained in jail for immigration-related offences.
He was re-arrested in April as he stepped out of jail after serving that sentence.
Prosecutors intended to charge him for the Bali bombings but a ruling in August by
Indonesia's highest court struck down the retroactive use of a new anti-terrorist law
and left police struggling to compile charges against him.
Police have since amended their allegations, principally tying Bashir to the Marriott
bombing.
15/10/2004 18:52:01 | ABC Radio Australia News
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