Gufron no-show at Rusydan's trial

JAKARTA: Prosecutors, again, failed to present a key witness in Monday's hearing of the trial of Abu Rusydan at the South Jakarta District Court without a clear reason.

Prosecutor Hendra Ruhendra claimed that Mukhlas, alias Ali Gufron, who has been sentenced to death for his role in the Bali bombing last year, could not appear because he was processing his appeal with the Supreme Court. He proceeded by reading out the dossier on Gufron.

The police confirmed on Sunday that Gufron was in Jakarta to take the stand as a witness for the defendant, who is charged with withholding evidence on terrorist activities.

Rusydan complained about Gufron's absence, saying: "I hope that Ali Gufron can testify because his presence as a key witness is very important in determining my future and that of my family and the people who need me."

The defense lawyer, Achmad Michdan, objected to the dossier and said the prosecutors must not be serious in the trial as they had failed to present Gufron before the court.

Rusydan's last meeting with Gufron was in Tawang Mangu, Surakarta, Central Java, in October 2002, five days after the Bali bombings on Oct. 12, according to the dossier.

Law expert Loebby Loeqman, who took the stand as an expert witness, said someone could be charged with concealing information on a suspect's whereabouts only if the suspect was already on the police's wanted list.

Presiding judge Mahmoud Rahimi adjourned the hearing until Dec. 29, when two alleged JI members will testify. -- JP