Extremist on Trial for Supplying Aceh Militants With Arms, Cash Mohd Adhe Bhakti | December 29, 2010
Source: Jakarta globe
Another key terrorism trial began on Wednesday with Abdullah Sunata facing charges of helping organize a training camp in Aceh to prepare militants for Mumbai-style attacks during the Aug. 17 National Day celebrations.
Sunata, 32, is accused of collecting funds and providing arms for the Aceh camp, according to his indictment read at the East Jakarta District Court.
“The defendant collected Rp 195 million [$21,600] from various sources to buy weapons for the paramilitary training in Aceh,” prosecutor Asep Amirudin said.
“Of that amount, Rp 30 million was accepted from Abu Tholut and used to buy three M-16 rifles,” he said, referring to another suspected militant who was arrested this month for allegedly masterminding an armed bank heist in Medan and also for his role in the Aceh camp.
Sunata was charged under articles of the Anti-Terrorism Law that carry death sentence.
Long before the Aceh camp was uncovered by police in February, Sunata had surveyed the location early in 2009 and approached locals to set up the training ground, the indictment said.
Preparations were halted shortly after the July 17, 2009, twin hotel bombings in Jakarta but resumed under the leadership of since-slain militant leader Dulmatin.
Former terrorism convict Sunata was released from jail in 2009 for good behavior after serving only a fraction of a seven-year sentence for his role in harboring Noordin M. Top and the 2004 Australian Embassy attack, which killed 10 people.
He was arrested again in June for his alleged involvement in the Aceh camp.
“After he was released, the accused was active in preaching jihad and the obligation of people to carry out jihad,” Aminudin added. Targets are said to have been the president and other dignitaries, among others.
Sunata disputed the indictment, saying the group had no plans to kill President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for cracking down on Islamic militants, or to attack Westerners in Jakarta.
“There is no plot for the August 17 attack,” he said.
Wearing a maroon shirt and white cap, Sunata said there was a “stigma” carried by convicted terrorists. “That’s their accusation. Actually, the term terrorist is neutral,” he told reporters from his court cell before the trial. “I’ll leave it to Allah to decide the outcome.”
Presiding judge Suhartoyo adjourned the hearing to Jan. 5 to allow the defendant time to present a preliminary defense.
Sunata is one of more than 80 alleged members of the terrorist cell to have been captured or killed since February. Thirteen of those men were recently sentenced to prison terms of five to nine years.
Sunata’s return to terrorism, experts say, highlights weaknesses in Indonesia’s deradicalization program. Unlike in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Singapore, efforts here have been largely police-led, and little is done to challenge radical religious tenets.
Additional reporting by AP & AFP
Another key terrorism trial began on Wednesday with Abdullah Sunata facing charges of helping organize a training camp in Aceh to prepare militants for Mumbai-style attacks during the Aug. 17 National Day celebrations.
Sunata, 32, is accused of collecting funds and providing arms for the Aceh camp, according to his indictment read at the East Jakarta District Court.
“The defendant collected Rp 195 million [$21,600] from various sources to buy weapons for the paramilitary training in Aceh,” prosecutor Asep Amirudin said.
“Of that amount, Rp 30 million was accepted from Abu Tholut and used to buy three M-16 rifles,” he said, referring to another suspected militant who was arrested this month for allegedly masterminding an armed bank heist in Medan and also for his role in the Aceh camp.
Sunata was charged under articles of the Anti-Terrorism Law that carry death sentence.
Long before the Aceh camp was uncovered by police in February, Sunata had surveyed the location early in 2009 and approached locals to set up the training ground, the indictment said.
Preparations were halted shortly after the July 17, 2009, twin hotel bombings in Jakarta but resumed under the leadership of since-slain militant leader Dulmatin.
Former terrorism convict Sunata was released from jail in 2009 for good behavior after serving only a fraction of a seven-year sentence for his role in harboring Noordin M. Top and the 2004 Australian Embassy attack, which killed 10 people.
He was arrested again in June for his alleged involvement in the Aceh camp.
“After he was released, the accused was active in preaching jihad and the obligation of people to carry out jihad,” Aminudin added. Targets are said to have been the president and other dignitaries, among others.
Sunata disputed the indictment, saying the group had no plans to kill President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for cracking down on Islamic militants, or to attack Westerners in Jakarta.
“There is no plot for the August 17 attack,” he said.
Wearing a maroon shirt and white cap, Sunata said there was a “stigma” carried by convicted terrorists. “That’s their accusation. Actually, the term terrorist is neutral,” he told reporters from his court cell before the trial. “I’ll leave it to Allah to decide the outcome.”
Presiding judge Suhartoyo adjourned the hearing to Jan. 5 to allow the defendant time to present a preliminary defense.
Sunata is one of more than 80 alleged members of the terrorist cell to have been captured or killed since February. Thirteen of those men were recently sentenced to prison terms of five to nine years.
Sunata’s return to terrorism, experts say, highlights weaknesses in Indonesia’s deradicalization program. Unlike in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Singapore, efforts here have been largely police-led, and little is done to challenge radical religious tenets.
Additional reporting by AP & AFP
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