Bomb suspect denies charges

JAKARTA: The legal defense representing Mohammad Rais, who went on trial for last year's Marriott bombing, refuted on Monday the prosecution's charges that Mohammad organized the terror act.

Lawyer M. Toha argued that the case was obscure, as it failed to detail where and when the defendant became involved in masterminding the blast on Aug. 5, 2003, which claimed 12 lives, including six drivers and a Dutch banker, and injured 147 others.

"The defendant was arrested by police long before the Marriott bombing. The prosecution has mistakenly charged the defendant," Toha told the South Jakarta District Court.

Rais, who had been to Afghanistan and Pakistan for religious training, was arrested in Bengkulu province on April 23, 2003 in connection with a separate case.

Prosecutors accused Rais, along with the most wanted suspects in the blast -- Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Top, who are still at large -- of plotting and ordering operatives to carry out acts of terror from September 2002 to January 2003.

Presiding judge Johanes E Binti adjourned the trial until Feb. 12. -- JP