Court to decide on Bere's trial Tuesday

Court to decide on Bere's trial Tuesday

JAKARTA: The Central Jakarta District Court will decide next
Tuesday whether to continue or suspend the trial against
militiaman Yacobus Bere, who is charged with the murder of a New
Zealand peacekeeper in East Timor last year.

The pro-Indonesia East Timorese Bere is accused of murdering
Pvt. Leonard William Manning, 24, on 24 July 2000 in Suai when
the victim was serving with the United Nations peacekeeping force
in East Timor.

The defendant was charged with violating Article 340 of the
Criminal Code on premeditated murder, which carries a maximum
penalty of death.

In the development of the case, Prosecutor Muhammad Syafei
told reporters that four other militiamen had arrived here
earlier this month and would soon be tried on the same charge at
the same court.

Currently, they are being detained at Salemba Penitentiary in
Central Jakarta. --JP