Ba'asyir to be tried next week

Ba'asyir to be tried next week

JAKARTA: Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who is suspected of leading a
regional terror network, is expected to stand trial next week, an
official said on Wednesday.

"The defendant will be tried next Wednesday by the Central
Jakarta District Court," court spokesman, Andi Samsan Nganro,
told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

A panel of five judges, led by the president of the district
court M. Saleh, has been formed to handle the case, he said. The
panel of judges consists of Judge Rukmini, Judge Panusunan
Harahap, Judge M. Daming Sunusi and Andi.

The court, which usually sets up a panel of three judges to
try a case, decided to add two more judges as "the case has
attracted public attention", Andi said.

The trial is expected to be held at a function hall of the
Meteorological and Geophysics office in Central Jakarta, if the
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights approves the court's
request. The court usually holds high-profile court hearings
there.

However, the first hearing might be held at the Central
Jakarta District Court building on Jl. Gajah Mada in Central
Jakarta if the ministry does not approve the request on time,
Andi said.

Ba'asyir is charged with treason for attempting to topple a
legitimate government and setting up an Islamic state as well as
for his involvement in a series of bombings in the city in 2000.
The offenses carry a maximum penalty of death.

Ba'asyir, 64, is said to be the spiritual leader of the Jamaah
Islamiyah group, an alleged terrorist group associated with Osama
bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network. --JP