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