German terrorist suspect released

German terrorist suspect released

JAKARTA: A German citizen who was jailed for 10 months on visa violations after suspicions of alleged links with the al-Qaeda terrorist network could not be proven, was freed from prison, but remained in custody pending deportation, immigration officials said.

Seyam Reda, 43, a German citizen of Egyptian descent, was released from Jakarta's Cipinang Penitentiary on Wednesday.

Indonesian and German Embassy officials in Jakarta took Reda to the immigration quarantine facilities.

Reda was originally arrested in Jakarta last September for alleged links to Osama bin Laden-led terror group, but police found no evidence to lay charges against him.

Reda denied any wrongdoing, and claimed he was in Indonesia as a journalist.

A district court in January sentenced Reda to 10 months imprisonment for visa violations, with the time he had already spent in detention deducted.

"Reda is scheduled to be sent to Germany soon," said an immigration official named Dany. -- JP