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