20 years demanded for Makassar bomber

20 years demanded for Makassar bomber

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi

The prosecution requested the Makassar District Court on
Wednesday to sentence Wirahadi, alias Wira, the defendant, to 20
years in jail for his role in an aborted bombing attempt two
years ago on fast-food restaurant KFC.

Wirahadi, 21, is one of 20 defendants linked to the attacks on
McDonald's and auto show room NV Hadji Kalla, and an aborted
bombing attempt on a local KFC outlet in December 2002 in
Makassar, capital of South Sulawesi.

Mustapeng, the head of the prosecution, said Wirahadi was
found guilty of violating Antiterrorism Law No. 15/2003.
Mustapeng accused him of being the executor of the bombing
attempt on the KFC outlet in Pengayoman area, and accomplices
Ashar, Arman and Mirjal of bombing McDonald's and NV Hadji Kalla.

On Dec. 5, the four went to their respective targets to
detonate the bombs, but Wirahadi had decided to abort the KFC
bombing, because "there were already many police at the scene".

He threw the bomb away in a nearby ditch and went home.

His accomplices executed their plans, killing three people in
the McDonald's bombing and injuring 15 others. No one was injured
in the explosion at NV Hadji Kalla.

The trial has been adjourned until early February to hear the
defense.

The Makassar District Court has sentenced 16 defendants, with
sentences ranging from two to 18 years in jail. Wirahadi is the
17th defendant being tried in the Makassar bombing cases.

The police have named 25 people as suspects in the cases.
Besides Wirahadi and the 16 who have been sentenced, three are
still at large, one was acquitted, one died in a bombing and
three others are being tried at a separate Palopo court.