Five judges named to Nazar trial
JAKARTA (JP): Five judges have been appointed to the trial of Central Information for Aceh Referendum (SIRA) chief Muhammad Nazar in the Banda Aceh District Court, which will begin on Thursday, Antara reported.
Azis Syarif from the Medan District Court has been named the presiding judge, with NK. Simatupang, M. Taufik, also from Medan, Farida Hanoem from Banda Aceh District Court and Alimusahadi of Sabang District Court appointed as panel members.
"We will continue with the legal processing of Nazar's case, we are ready for it," Judge Simatupang told Antara in Medan on Friday.
He said the dossiers for Nazar's case had been transferred from the Medan court to its Banda Aceh counterpart.
The new Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Baharuddin Lopa, issued decree No. M.05.AT.01.10/2001 stipulating the relocation of Nazar's trial to the Aceh capital after the defendant failed to appear at the opening session on Feb. 21 in Medan.
Lopa's predecessor Yusril Ihza Mahendra had previously ordered the trial be held in Medan due to security concerns and the fact that only one judge was available in Banda Aceh, namely Farida.
"Whatever happens we will carry out our duty ... we have nothing to be afraid of," Simatupang said.
Many fear that the trial could heighten tension in the strife- torn Aceh province.
Nazar was charged with exhibiting hostile intentions against the state, or treason, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail, after organizing a mass congress to demand a referendum for Aceh's freedom in Banda Aceh last November. He has been detained since Nov. 20 last year.
Amid the latest violence in Aceh, a group of alleged rebels from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) stole Rp 52 million in cash from the entourage of the Meukek district chief and other local officials in Alue Meutuah village in South Aceh on Tuesday.
"The district chief of Meukek along with several officials were passing a TVRI transmitter in the village when gunmen riding motorbikes intercepted them and raided the car," police said in a statement on Friday.
The civilians were left unharmed, but were threatened not to report the incident to police.
In Bireun regency, police raided a house believed to be a GAM base on Thursday morning and seized various police and military items such as uniforms, 18 rounds of SS-1 bullets, dozens of revolver bullets, GAM documents and two bayonets.
Three men, identified as M. Yunus, Syamsuar and Tukul were arrested following the raid, local police officer Comr. Hari Sutjahjono said in a statement on Friday.
Some of the items belong to the Aceh Tengah Police chief, and were stolen from his house, the officer said.
The goods were taken to the Jeumpa Police subprecinct office in North Aceh as evidence. (edt)