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