Bomb maker trials commence

Bomb maker trials commence

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

The Cibinong District Court began on Monday the trial against
Oman Rochman, alias Aman Abdurrahman, a teacher of Islam, for
allegedly masterminding a terrorist attack and giving orders to
make bombs.

The court also heard the cases of his suspected accomplices --
Agus Kusdiyanto, Muhamad Ferdiansyah Putra Musahid, Inggrid Wahyu
Cahyaningsih and Hadi Suwandono, alias Ubaidah, in separate
hearings.

Prosecutor Lukman Rumaedi told the court that Oman and
Syaiful, alias Harun, alias Fathurrobi -- who is still at large
-- had met several times at different locations between December
2003 and March 2004 to discuss a bomb attack.

Prosecutors accused Oman of violating the Antiterrorism Law
and the 1951 Emergency Law on possession and making of
explosives. The laws carry a maximum death sentence.

They said Oman deployed his pupils to undergo bomb-making and
militia training, and took out charity funds to finance their
activities.

Militia training was reportedly conducted in January at the
University of Indonesia campus in Depok, where participants were
clad in long-sleeved, black T-shirts reading Al-Asad Outdoor
Activities Club, while bomb-making was taught at Inggrid's
mother's house on Jl. Bakti ABRI, Cimanggis.

Residual material from the explosives training apparently blew
up the house on March 21.

The court is set to hear on Tuesday the cases of four other
defendants: Syarif Hidayat, Kamaludin, Samin Saan and Septiono,
alias Amar, alias Widi.

Two other suspects, Inggrid's husband Andri Susanto, alias
Kholid, and Achmad Milan are still on the run.