Five years sought for bomb suspects

Five years sought for bomb suspects

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Prosecutors on Thursday asked for a five-year jail sentence for
Ramli, alias Dadang Hermana, 42, who is on trial in connection
with the bomb explosion at Graha Cijantung mall in East Jakarta
on July 1, 2002.

Prosecutor Supomo told the East Jakarta District Court that
Ramli was guilty of being involved in the low-explosion incident
and of possessing illegal weapons.

Ramli is being charged with violating Article 1 of Emergency
Law No. 12/1951 on ammunition and arms possession, which carries
a maximum punishment of life imprisonment or a death sentence.

He had earlier been handed down a 20-year jail sentence by the
Bekasi District Court for illegal arms possession in a separate
case.

Even if the East Jakarta District Court finds Ramli guilty in
the Cijantung bomb case and give him another five years in jail,
this would not mean that Ramli will spend 25 years in jail.
According to the law, 20 years is the maximum sentence that he
should serve.

The police had repeatedly claimed that the Free Aceh Movement
(GAM) was behind the bomb at Cijantung mall, which is located
near the Army's Special Forces headquarters. However, the trial
did not implicate GAM at all in connection with the case.

The indictment stated that, on the day of the bombing, Ramli
was driving with several friends in a Kijang van when Sahrul
Aryady, alias Sugeng, told the occupants of the car, "We'll blow
up Graha Cijantung today to cause chaos in Jakarta." The homemade
bomb was prepared by Sahrul and Mukharam, who was also in the
car.

At 7 p.m., Mukharam planted the bomb under the emergency
stairs at the basement level.

The blast damaged level B2 of the mall, but no casualties were
reported.

Presiding Judge Pardiman adjourned the trial until June 3,
when the defense would present their opening statement.