Makassar bomb blast trials to start next Monday<\/p>\n
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi<\/p>\n
The trials of five of 24 suspects implicated in the Makassar bomb
\nattacks on Dec. 5, 2002, will begin in the Makassar District
\nCourt on June 9.<\/p>\n
Chief Justice Bagir Manan, during a visit to the court on
\nMonday, said the court, which has appointed five panels of judges
\nto hear the cases, was ready for the trials, the first of which
\nwould involve Haerul, Muhammad Tang alias Itang, Anton, Ilham
\nRiyadi and Suriadi.<\/p>\n
The five face execution if convicted of the charges, including
\nillegal possession of explosives and murder.<\/p>\n
The blasts targeted a McDonald's outlet and a car dealership
\nowned by Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Yusuf Kalla.<\/p>\n
Three people were killed and 11 injured. Five suspects are
\nstill at large, including the alleged mastermind Agung Adul
\nHamid.<\/p>\n
Besides him, those alleged to have played a decisive role in
\nthe bombings are also Bizbullah Rasyid, Dahlan and Mirjal.<\/p>\n
Police allege the attacks, which followed the devastating Oct.
\n12 Bali bomb attacks blamed on Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), also
\ninvolved the shadowy regional terrorist network. Suspects in both
\ncases claimed to be members of JI. Links have also been
\nestablished to the bombing campaigns on Christmas Eve 2000 and
\n2002.<\/p>\n
Bagir said: \"The court chief has reported that they will be
\ntechnically prepared for the trial. The panel of judges have been
\nset up. Five court rooms are also ready for the trial.\"<\/p>\n
Bagir, speaking to reporters as he toured the court, court
\ncells and judges' quarters, said the judges had discussed the
\ncases with High Court judges, particularly regarding the possible
\nindictments from prosecutors.<\/p>\n
A Supreme Court justice would aid the judges in conducting
\ntheir tasks.<\/p>\n
Bagir called on the people of South Sulawesi to trust the
\njudges during the trials.<\/p>\n
\"I call on the public to let the trials run smoothly without
\ninterruption. I'm sure the trial will be a success.\"<\/p>\n
The court has requested support from the South Sulawesi
\nadministration to provide facilities, including a sound system,
\nand also from the South Sulawesi police to provide security.<\/p>\n
The upcoming trial would coincide with the trials in Bali of
\ntwo key suspects in last year's Bali bombing, and the trial of
\nJI's alleged spiritual leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Aside from uncovering an alleged terrorist network in
\nMakassar, police here have also found at least five of their
\nsuspected military style training camps.<\/p>\n
The fifth camp in the Luwu regency was allegedly used by the
\nbombing suspects for shooting practice and assembling bombs.<\/p>\n
Suspects told the police that they received training from
\nforeign instructors, possibly from Afghanistan.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/makassar-bomb-blast-trials-to-start-next-monday-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}