Court acknowledges Laskar Jihad chief's objection

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Ambon District Court on Saturday approved an objection filed by Laskar Jihad commander Ja'far Umar Thalib over his detention as ordered by the Ambon Prosecutors' Office.

The court, however, refused to order his release because of an earlier decision by the East Jakarta District Court which extended his detention for another 30 days, Antara reported.

During Saturday's hearing, Judge J. Hehamoni said that the arrest warrant issued by the head of the Ambon Prosecutors' Office, Raharusun, contained legal flaws.

The arrest warrant was issued and signed on July 2, while Raharusun had left Ambon on June 30.

The court, therefore, accepted the objection filed by the defense lawyers.

The decision was immediately cheered by Laskar Jihad members present in the courtroom, even though Ja'far's lawyers, led by M. Rachman Marasabessy, had earlier decided to walk out when Hehamoni disclosed that the hearing was closed to the public.

The judge, nevertheless, rejected the defense lawyer's plea to the court to release Ja'far from detention.

The judge contended that he could not order Ja'far's release, considering that the East Jakarta District Court decided on July 15 to extend his arrest for another 30 days.

Ja'far was detained at Juanda Airport in Surabaya after flying from restive Maluku province on charges of agitation and slanderous remarks against the President.

Police used tape recordings of his speeches encouraging Muslims to fight Christians, which Ja'far made before and after the bloody attack on the village Soya as evidence to detain Ja'far, although, according to the law, a recording cannot be used as evidence.