Indonesian prosecutors seek life sentence to Muslim cleric for role in terrorist cell

Indonesian prosecutors seek life sentence to Muslim cleric for role in terrorist cell

2011-05-09 23:09:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- Indonesian prosecutors on Monday announced that they recommended life sentence for Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir for his role in a terrorist cell, the Jakarta Globe reported.

Prosecutor Andi Muhammad Taufik said that the cleric's actions could not be justified and in return he should be imprisoned for life. Bashir is accused of being the religious leader of a terrorist organization and training camp ion Aceh province.

"The defendant as a religious leader should set good example to his followers, but instead he incited them to commit actions that are against the law," said the prosecutor. "He has been convicted before and he has shown no remorse for his crime."

The case was adjourned for May 25. Bashir's supporters reacted with anger outside the South Jakarta District Court after hearing the prosecution's demands while shouting "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is great).

The 72-year-old cleric previously denied charges accusing him of funding the terrorist cell known as al-Qaeda in Aceh cell operating in Indonesia. Since proceedings began earlier this year, Bashir's supporters have staged protests against what they labeled as an unfair trial.

His supporters claim that the charges were engineered by the antiterrorism police's 88 special detachment (Densus 88). Bashir was charged with providing one billion rupiahs ($900,000) for purchasing weapons for al-Qaeda in Aceh.

The al-Qaeda in Aceh cell was discovered in the northern most tip of Sumatra Island in February 2010. Bashir was accused of providing financial aid for the purchase of nine assault rifles, four AK-47s, two AK-58s, six revolvers, one handgun and 19,900 bullets.

Bashir also denied knowing Dulmatin, the network's alleged operations leader who was shot dead by police in March 2010. The terrorist cell was responsible for the 2002 Bali attacks which resulted in the death of 202 people.

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