Bomb suspect may face 10 years

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi

Prosecutors requested on Monday a 10-year sentence for a suspect in December's bombing of a McDonald's outlet and a car dealership in Makassar, South Sulawesi, which killed three people and injured 11 others.

Suriadi, 32, was "legally and convincingly" guilty of aiding the bombers and of concealing information on the terrorist attack on Dec. 5, 2002, the prosecutors said.

"Based on the facts unveiled at the trial, the defendant knew that material evidence, including a bag of potassium, a metal cable and electric cables, which were kept at his house, belonged to Ilham Riadi (another suspect)," chief prosecutor Hajrati said.

"But the defendant (Suriadi) did not report it to authorities. Therefore, we believe that he deliberately concealed information on the planned terrorist attack," he said.

Suriadi is the second defendant to be tried at the Makassar District Court who could face 10 years in jail after Imal Hamid, a younger brother of Agung Abdul Hamid, the alleged mastermind of the Makassar bombings.

Reading out the 16-page indictment, Hajrati said Suriadi was also found to have received and kept a plastic bag containing an illegally obtained FN pistol, which he later gave to Ilham Riadi.

Police had also seized at least nine arrows during a raid on Suriadi's home, the prosecutor added.

Hajrati said the recommended sentence was increased because the defendant gave twisted statements during the trial, and the resulting terrorist act damaged Indonesia's international image.

The prosecutors also asked the defendant to pay Rp 5,000 for court proceedings.

Suriadi, an elementary school teacher, denied all charges.

"I didn't know that the bag contained potassium. I thought it was animal feed, like my sister Sohra said. The goods belonged to Agung Abdul Hamid and Ilham Riadi, who gave them to Sohra's husband Syauka Al Faruq for safekeeping," he said.

Suriadi told the court that he and his lawyers would present their defense plea during the next hearing scheduled for Monday, Aug. 18.

Also yesterday, the Makassar court resumed the trials of other defendants of the case: Muchtar Daeng Lau; Anton bin Labbase; Khaerul, alias Haerul; Muhammad Tang, alias Itang; and Masnur.

A total of 13 people are being tried over the Makassar bombings, but none have been sentenced as of yet.

Agung Abdul Hamid, the alleged brain behind the attack, remains at large. Police said he fled with explosives.