Journalist on trial over visa offense<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: A man of Arab descent went on trial on Thursday for
\nviolating his tourist visa after he was arrested in September for
\nsuspicion of having ties to the al-Qaeda terrorist organization.<\/p>\n
Police arrested the 42-year-old German, Seyam Reda, in
\nSeptember last year on suspicion that he had ties to the al-Qaeda
\nterrorist network.<\/p>\n
Tapes found in his Jakarta apartment showed militant training
\ncamps near the town of Poso in Central Sulawesi where sectarian
\ntension between Muslims and Christian still simmers.<\/p>\n
Later police said it could not substantiate suspicion that
\nReda was linked to Omar al-Faruq, an alleged senior operative of
\nthe al-Qaeda and who was also arrested here last June.<\/p>\n
\"For us, there is no evidence he has any links to terror
\nactivity,\" said a police official who declined to be identified.<\/p>\n
Reda misused his tourist visa to work as a journalist in the
\nMuslim-Christian conflict areas of Ambon city in Maluku and Poso,
\nsaid prosecutor Suharto in court.<\/p>\n
The visa violation carries a maximum jail term of five years.
\nReda's trial was adjourned until Thursday next week. -- Reuters<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/journalist-on-trial-over-visa-offense-1447893297",
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