Ba'asyir's detention extended for 40 days
Ba'asyir's detention extended for 40 days
Damar Harsanto and Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Prosecutors extended on Wednesday the detention of Muslim cleric
Abu Bakar Ba'asyir for another 40 days, saying they need more
time to complete his case documents.
National Police deputy spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said on
Wednesday the extension would become effective on Friday, when
Ba'asyir's first detention period expires.
"We requested an extension of Ba'asyir's detention last week
from the Jakarta Prosecutors Office as his detention period which
began on Nov. 2 will expire on Nov. 22," Prasetyo said.
He added that the police would not move Ba'asyir from the
Raden Said Soekanto Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta,
where he has been undergoing treatment since he was forcibly
transferred from Muhammadiyah Hospital in the Central Java town
of Surakarta last month.
The request for an extension of Ba'asyir's detention
contradicted the police's previous statement that they were
prepared to submit the case files to the prosecutors in spite of
the cleric's refusal to answer police questions.
Ba'asyir, 64, the chairman of the Indonesian Mujahidin Council
(MMI) was accused of involvement in a series of bombings in 2000,
an immigration law violation and a plot to assassinate President
Megawati Soekarnoputri in 1999. If convicted, Ba'asyir could face
the death sentence.
The court threw out a suit brought by Ba'asyir's last week
claiming his arrest was unlawful.
Meanwhile, Ba'asyir's lawyer Ahmad Michdan said on Wednesday
the extension of his client's detention did not surprise him.
Ahmad said Ba'asyir's team of lawyers were preparing evidence
and witnesses to exonerate Ba'asyir.
"We have three credible witnesses from Malaysia and Indonesia
who can testify accurately about Ustad Ba'asyir and refute all
accusations leveled against him," said Ahmad, declined to name
the witnesses.
Police will submit the case files to the prosecutors once they
complete all documents required, Prasetyo said without giving a
time frame.