Court asked to allow Ba'asyir's a break

JAKARTA: Muslim hard-line group the Indonesia Mujahidin Council (MMI) asked the court on Thursday that Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who is standing trial for treason, be permitted to take a break from detention to attend the annual congress of the organization he leads.

Ba'asyir read out the organization's request during his trial at the Central Jakarta District Court, saying it had asked him to address the congress, which will take place between Aug. 10 and Aug. 12 in Surakarta, Central Java.

The court has not yet made a decision about the request.

Ba'asyir is being charged with attempting to topple the government through acts of terror. He faces 20 years imprisonment if convicted.

During his trial on Thursday, the son of former leader of the Jamaah Islamiyah group Said Ahmad Sungkar testified that he had never heard Muslim cleric Ba'asyir incite violence.

Said, who knew the defendant in Malaysia in 1993 and 1994, told the court that Ba'asyir had never been involved in any act of violence.

Another witness, Hafif bin Abdul Madjid, also offered similar testimony. Hafif is a teacher of Islam and a friend of Ba'asyir.

The trial did not hear the testimony of Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid and Abdullah Hehamanua, a member of the Public Officials Wealth Audit Commission, who were summoned as expert witnesses. -- JP