The Jakarta Post, September 09, 2004
Bomb conspirator gets 3 years, five less than sought by
prosecutor
Puji Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru
A defendant accused of assisting the perpetrators of the Pekanbaru Christmas Eve
2000 bombings has been sentenced to three years in prison, five years less than
requested by the prosecution.
In the verdict of the Pekanbaru District Court, which was delivered by presiding judge
Jahrul Rabiah in the Women's Hall on Jl. Pangeran Diponegoro, the court stated that
the accused, Yoesfriyus bin Yunus, alias Datuk Raja Ameh, alias Muchtar, 60, had
been proven beyond all reasonable doubt to have abetted the bombers of the Batak
Protestant Church on Jl. Hangtuah in Pekanbaru on Dec. 24, 2000.
The panel of judges ruled that the suspect had knowingly conspired with a number of
men who have since been convicted of terrorism, including Imam Samudra, Tony
Togar, Mukhlas, alias Ali Gufron, Al Faruq and Iskandar.
"The accused has been proven to have pointed out and guided these men to the
locations of a number of churches in Pekanbaru on Christmas Eve," said Jahrul. He
added that the accused had violated the Criminal Code by not reporting the plot to the
security authorities.
The lenient sentence handed down by the judges was based on two factors -- the
accused had been cooperative during the trial and his age.
After the verdict had been read out, defense lawyer Muharnis said he would appeal.
"My client is not guilty in the least. The evidence was clear, so why has he been
convicted," asked Muharnis after the verdict had been read out.
Prosecutor D. Sitepu said that he would consider the judges' decision. "We will
announce our plans after we have received a copy of the verdict," he said.
The Pekanbaru bombing killed at least two people and took place at almost the same
time as bombings targeting churches across the country, in which a total of 19 people
died.
The bombings are believed to have been the work of regional terror group Jamaah
Islamiyah, which has been blamed for the Bali and Marriott bombings.
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