The Jakarta Post, 1/11/2006 5:23:27 PM
Indonesian Islamic militant goes on trial on terrorism charges
JAKARTA (AFP): An Indonesian Islamic militant went on trial Wednesday on charges
of helping fund terrorist operations.
Prosecutors accused Joko Tri Priyanto, 34, of giving Rp 350,000 (US$37) to fellow
militant Ahmad Rofiq Ridho in August 2004.
The indictment said Ahmad had used the cash to "provide accomodation and a
hideaway" for top terror suspect Noordin Mohammad Top, who is still at large.
Prosecutors told the South Jakarta district court that Joko allowed Ahmad to use his
motorcycle last year to transport Noordin, who was trying to evade a police hunt.
"The defendant ... knew Noordin Mohammad Top was a perpetrator of terrorism
sought by police but he and his colleagues helped him to hide," said chief prosecutor
Roberth Tacoy.
Joko faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison if found guilty.
Ahmad is on trial separately for allegedly surveying bombing targets including a
Christian school in East Java at the behest of Noordin.
He is the brother of Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, a leading member of the Jemaah
Islamiyah extremist group (JI) who was killed by Philippine troops in 2003.
Both Joko and Ahmad are among 11 militants who are currently on trial for alleged
terrorism.
Noordin, a Malaysian, is a leading member of the JI group which has carried out a
series of deadly bombings in recent years, including the October 2002 Bali blasts that
killed 202 people.
His chief accomplice and compatriot Azahari Husin was gunned down by anti-terror
police last November but Noordin remains on the run. (**)
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