LAKSAMANA.Net, December 8, 2003 11:52 PM
Two More Sentenced Over McDonald's Bombing
Laksamana.Net - Two men have been sentenced to three and a half years in jail for
hiding one of the main culprits in last year's deadly bombing of a McDonald's
restaurant and car showroom in Makassar, South Sulawesi province.
Makassar District Court on Monday (8/12/03) found Syaifullah Amir and Muhammad
Amir guilty of harboring bomber Anthon bin Labasse.
Presiding judge Muhmad Adnan said the two had helped Labasse to hide in Parepare
city after he participated in the December 5 bombing that killed three people and
injured 15.
Adnan said the two knew that Labasse was wanted by police but they failed to report
him. The two defendants appealed the verdict.
Labasse was convicted in October and sentenced to eight years in jail for his role in
the attack.
Authorities have charged about 20 suspects with involvement in the bombing, although
the mastermind remains at large. Fourteen of the suspects have now been sentenced
and one has been acquitted. Sentences have ranged from two to 15 years.
Prosecutors have said some of the suspects admitted to membership in the Laskar
Jundullah Islamic militia group and received explosives training in the Philippines.
Some have also been linked to members of regional terrorism network Jemaah
Islamiyah, which has been blamed for last year's Bali nightclub bombings that killed
202 people.
Police have said the motive of the McDonald's attack was to make a symbolic
anti-American strike. US fast-food franchises in Indonesia have often been the target
of protests and attacks by Islamic groups over recent years.
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