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.