Convicted bomber gets sent to jail

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: The Tanjungkarang District Court sentenced Timor Deli on Tuesday to three years in jail for his role in a bomb attack on a Bethany church last year.

Prosecutors had demanded 15 years imprisonment for the 40-year-old fisherman, who they accused of supplying bomb-making materials for another defendant, Ramon Niode, who carried out the bombing on the orders of Habib HS, a leading figure in a local Muslim organization. Ramon and Habib are standing trial separately.

The panel of judges said Timor was guilty of violating article 200 (1) of the 1951 emergency law and articles 55 and 56 of the Criminal Code for illegal possession of explosives.

Through his lawyers, Timor said he was considering an appeal, saying he had never known that the materials he supplied to Ramon would be used to bomb the historic church on June 21, 2002.

Prosecutors said they needed time to respond to the verdict.

No fatalities were reported in the bomb attack, which damaged the church's front door. Ramon said he became involved in the bombing of the church, which is located on Jl. Adm. Malahayati, as a precondition for a job offered by Habib with a Rp 2 million monthly salary. -- Antara