GAM campaigner jailed for 7 years

BANDA ACEH: Banda Aceh District Court sentenced on Monday Irwandi Yusuf alias Teungku Isnandar Al-Passe, a campaigner of the Aceh Free Movement (GAM), to seven years in jail for treason.

Presiding judge Musa Arief Aini said Irwandi was found guilty of violating Article 106 of the Criminal Code for working as a translator for GAM's spokesman Sofyan Daud.

Irwandi, a former lecturer at the state-run Syiah Kuala University, was often seen in GAM activities, including the inauguration of GAM's commander Muzakir Manaf two years ago.

The verdict was a half the prosecutors' demand sentence of 14 years in jail.

"I think the judge is fairer than the prosecutors," said Irwandi, commenting on the verdict.

However, he said he considered appealing the verdict. --JP