Ba'asyir alleges conspiracy<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Alleging a wicked plot to put cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir behind
\nbars by any means, his lawyers met legislators on Tuesday and
\ndemanded a probe into the suspected conspiracy.<\/p>\n
The lawyers also filed an appeal with the Jakarta High Court
\nto overturn Ba'asyir's 30-month jail term.<\/p>\n
Muslim Attorney Team chief Mahendradatta said the alleged
\nconspiracy between police, prosecutors and judges was blatantly
\nobvious during Ba'asyir's trial proceedings.<\/p>\n
\"(The prosecutors and judges) deliberately kept Amrozi from
\nbeing called to the stand, but it was so bizarre because they
\nlater based their verdict solely on Amrozi's alleged statement,\"
\nhe told House of Representatives Commission III for law.<\/p>\n
Sixty-six-year-old Ba'asyir was sentenced to 30 months last
\nweek by the South Jakarta District Court for his part in the 2002
\nBali blasts that claimed 202 lives, mostly Westerners.<\/p>\n
The judges relied on the sworn testimony of Mubarok, a Bali
\nbombing convict, who cited a conversation between his convicted
\naccomplice Amrozi and Ba'asyir about holding an \"event\" in Bali,
\nwhich the court interpreted as proof that the cleric had
\nconspired in staging the terror attack.<\/p>\n
\"The prosecutors, with help from the police, kept preventing
\nAmrozi from being summoned. They even adjourned the trial
\nwhenever Mubarok couldn't make it. They clearly violated
\nBa'asyir's right to defend himself against Amrozi's statement
\nbecause he never testified,\" said Mahendradatta.<\/p>\n
He said Amrozi claimed to have never been contacted by the
\nprosecutors to testify and clarify his statement.<\/p>\n
Mahendradatta said the verdict must have been handed down
\nmerely to prevent the police from losing face again given that
\nmost witnesses and evidence presented at the trial favored
\nBa'asyir.<\/p>\n
It was the second court case for Ba'asyir. He was cleared last
\nyear of leading the regional Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terror network
\nblamed for the Bali blasts and other terror attacks in the
\ncountry over the past few years, but was found guilty of
\nimmigration offense.<\/p>\n
The lawyers, said Mahendradatta, also suspected foreign
\ninvolvement in the trial due to the large amount of funds spent
\non the hearings.<\/p>\n
\"It was odd that, instead of using a regular courtroom, they
\nhad to rent a huge air-conditioned room and bring in dozens of
\npolicemen and prepare meals for them,\" he said, referring to the
\nMinistry of Agriculture's hall as the venue for Ba'asyir's trial.<\/p>\n
In response, Commission III chairman Teras Narang promised to
\nimmediately arrange hearings with relevant offices to investigate
\nthe lawyers' allegations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, analysts have said that Ba'asyir could win the
\nappeal due to what they believe was a flimsy prosecution.<\/p>\n
The sentence has been criticized as too lenient by Australia
\nand the United States, which insist Ba'asyir is JI's spiritual
\nleader. Canberra has urged prosecutors to appeal.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/baasyir-alleges-conspiracy-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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