20 years punishment sought for another Makassar bomber

20 years punishment sought for another Makassar bomber

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

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

Wirahadi, 21, was one of 20 defendants linked to the attacks
on fast-food restaurant 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.

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

On Dec. 5, the three went to their respective targets to
detonate the bombs, but Wirahadi 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. No one was injured in the explosion at NV
Hadji Kalla.

The trial has been adjourned until early February to hear the
defense, Antara reported on Wednesday.

The Makassar District Court has been trying almost 20
defendants in the high-profile case since last year.

The McDonald's bombing came less than two months after the
Oct. 12, 2002 Bali bombing.