Ba'asyir moved to Salemba prison

Ba'asyir moved to Salemba prison

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who is awaiting trial for
treason, was transferred from the National Police detention
center to Salemba detention center in Central Jakarta on Friday
under the escort of at least 60 police officers.

The transfer was made after the Central Jakarta District Court
granted a request by his team of lawyers, led by Mahendradatta,
who complained that his cell at the police headquarters was too
crowded.

Ba'asyir was staying in the same block as women detainees, and
shared a bathroom with them, the lawyers said.

The lawyers also complained that they found it difficult to
meet their client owing to the many restrictions set by the
police.

During the transfer, Ba'asyir was accompanied by Mahendradatta
and prosecutors Ramdanu and Hasan Madani.

Ba'asyir, who is also the leader of the radical Indonesian
Mujahidin Council (MMI), is being tried on charges of treason and
violating the Immigration Law.

Police also allege that Ba'asyir is the spiritual leader of
Jamaah Islamiyah, which is thought to be the Southeast Asian cell
of al-Qaeda terrorist network. Jamaah Islamiyah is believed to be
behind the Bali bombings that killed 202 people, mostly
foreigners.