JP\/5\/D03<\/p>\n
Court frees Medan terror suspect<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan
\nMedan<\/p>\n
A district court here acquitted on Wednesday a terror suspect of
\nall charges of involvement in the 2000 church bombings on
\nChristmas Eve in Medan, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The defendant, Awaluddin Sitorus alias Abu Yassar, 34, was not
\nproven to have played a role in the terror attacks, the Medan
\nDistrict Court said.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors had recommended 10 years imprisonment for
\nAwaluddin, charging him with violating Article 1 (1) of Emergency
\nLaw No. 12\/1951.<\/p>\n
However, the panel of judges said there was insufficient
\nevidence found against the defendant after at least 19 witnesses,
\npresented by the prosecutors, testified before the court.<\/p>\n
None of the witnesses admitted to having seen the suspect at
\nthe Padang Bulan Protestant church on May 28, 2000 at the time of
\nthe bombing, in which 36 people were injured, they added. No
\nfatalities were reported.<\/p>\n
Toni Togar, another defendant in the same case who was
\npresented as a key witness, told a previous trial that Awaluddin
\nwas not in Medan but on the island of Batam when the blast took
\nplace.<\/p>\n
Judge Binsar Gultom said the link between Awaluddin and the
\nchurch attacks was weak, as the prosecutors failed to present
\nfour other key witnesses also accused of involvement in the
\nblast.<\/p>\n
They were the alleged Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Hambali,
\ncurrently being held by the United States, Faiz Bin Abubakar
\nBafana, being detained in Malaysia, convicted Bali bomber Imam
\nSamudra and his accomplice Nasrullah who is still at large.<\/p>\n
\"The prosecutors should have been able to present the key
\nwitnesses in the trial because Awaluddin admitted he once met
\nwith them in Medan,\" Binsar said.<\/p>\n
He said that Awaluddin also confessed to have voluntarily
\nhelped Hambali and Imam Samudra find a rented house in Medan,<\/p>\n
However, Binsar added, Awaluddin along with Toni and Nasrullah
\nhad reportedly been ordered by the late Jabil Akim to bomb three
\nchurches in Medan, including the GKPI Padang Bulan. The identity
\nof Jabil was not clear.<\/p>\n
Awaluddin also admitted to having received Rp 4 million from
\nFaiz Bin Abubakar Bafana for transportation to gather their
\naccomplices for a meeting at Ibunda Hotel to discuss the riots in
\nMaluku province. The forum was attended by Hambali and Samudra.<\/p>\n
Responding to the court verdict in favor of the defendant,
\nprosecutor Nilma Lubis said his office would appeal to a higher
\ncourt.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp5d03-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}