Acquitted RI terrorist suspect returns

Acquitted RI terrorist suspect returns

JAKARTA: Agus Budiman, once suspected by the U.S. of being
linked to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks but later found not
guilty, returned to Jakarta on Sunday, after serving six months
in jail for overstaying his visa.

Agus began his jail sentence on Oct. 31 2001, when he was
detained by the U.S. authorities on suspicion he had links with
the Sept. 11 terrorists.

In May, a U.S. court cleared him of the charges but sentenced
him to jail for six months for overstaying his visa -- a period
he had already spent in prison by that time.

Agus arrived in Jakarta accompanied by two officials from the
U.S. immigration office.

"This fact (his release) further emphasizes that Indonesia is
not a terrorist hotbed as is often depicted by the rest of the
world," said foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa.

He said Agus' return was helped by Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hassan Wirayuda, who lobbied U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
when he visited Jakarta last month.-- Antara