Agus Dwikarna jailed for up to 17 years in Manila

Agus Dwikarna jailed for up to 17 years in Manila

Agencies, Manila/Jakarta

An Indonesian national arrested in the Philippines on suspicion
of terrorism in March was sentenced to up to 17 years in jail on
Friday for illegal possession of explosives.

Judge Henrick Gingoyon also ordered Agus Dwikarna to pay a
fine of 50,000 pesos (US$1,000) after he found Agus "guilty
beyond reasonable doubt" of possessing C-4 plastic explosives.

In Jakarta, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said
the government encouraged Agus Dwikarna to appeal the verdict but
stressed that Indonesia would not interfere in the judicial
process.

"Our main concern is to ensure that Agus' rights are not
violated during the whole process. We do support him appealing
the verdict, but will not interfere in the legal process," Hassan
said.

Hassan's statement came amid mounting public pressure on the
government to secure Agus' release or at least to have him tried
in Indonesia.

Agus was arrested at Manila airport along with compatriots
Abdul Jamal Balfas and Tamsil Linrung while about to board a
flight to Bangkok. Philippine police found explosive devices in
their luggage.

During their brief Philippine visit, the three were said to
have met with associates of another Indonesian, Fathur Rohman al-
Ghozi, who is now serving a 12-year-jail sentence here, also for
illegal possession of explosives.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo in April ordered Tamsil and
Abdul freed after the Indonesian government protested. Philippine
police said evidence against the two was lacking.

"(Agus) Dwikarna is found guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
Accordingly, he is sentenced to suffer a penalty of 10 years jail
as the minimum to 17 years as the maximum and to pay a fine of
50,000 pesos," Gingoyon concluded in his 35-page decision as
quoted by Agence France-Presse.

Justice Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee said the government
was "very pleased with this development".

Another justice official, Jose Calida, said Agus had also been
implicated in deadly bomb attacks in Manila in December 2000 and
in a bomb attack on the Philippine embassy in Jakarta in the same
year.

He said the information had been provided by one of 13 Jemaah
Islamiyah suspects arrested in Singapore in December on suspicion
they were plotting to bomb U.S. targets in the island state.

Philippine police would investigate the new allegations
against Agus and additional charges could be laid, Calida said.

A Philippine justice official said Friday intelligence reports
had additionally linked Dwirkana to Majlis Mujahedin Indonesia
led by elderly cleric Abu Bakar Ba'ashir.

The Indonesian government had refrained from defending Agus,
arguing that it would respect the legal process taking place in
the neighboring country.

Asked whether the Indonesian government would ask for clemency
for Agus, Minister Hassan said: "Just wait for the appeal
process, we have yet to reach to the final verdict of the trial."

Agus' family and his defense lawyers in Makassar, South
Sulawesi received the news with disbelief as a personal envoy of
President Arroyo had said in April that Arroyo would release
Agus.

"We are shocked ... and will appeal the verdict," Abraham told
The Jakarta Post Friday.

Agus' wife Suriyani and mother Nurbaya Dg Baji refused to talk
to the press.