Istiqlal bomber receives 38-month jail term

JAKARTA (JP): Judges at the Central Jakarta District Court sentenced on Monday the main defendant in last April's bomb blast at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque -- Surya Setiawan, alias Wawan -- to 38 months in jail.

"The defendant has been found guilty of carrying and detonating the bomb, along with the other suspects -- Jamhuri Litanahu, Nurly, Suradi, Semi Sedubun, Ati and Uci -- on April 19, 1999," presiding judge Rasadi Salmun said while reading the judges' verdict.

At a previous trial session, prosecutor Hasan Madani demanded the court sentence the defendant to 54 months in jail.

Judge Rasadi said the defendant had illegally possessed and used the explosive materials, a violation to article 1 of the 1951 Emergency Law.

The 1951 law stipulates that a person possessing and detonating explosive materials may face the death sentence.

"The defendant has also violated article 55 of the Criminal Code, because he persuaded members of his group to set the Amanah cooperative office as the bombing target," he said.

The cooperative office located on the ground floor of the mosque was the site of the bomb explosion.

Judge Rasadi said the defendant's move had created anxiety and controversy for Jakarta's residents.

"However, the defendant is still young. He can learn from his past mistakes. He has also admitted all his wrongdoings," Judge Rasadi said. The judge was commenting on the grounds for reducing the jail term, which was lighter than the term that the prosecutors had urged.

The judge said the bomb explosion severely damaged the wall of the mosque's ground floor, while all the windows in the offices of the Indonesian Ulema Council and the Indonesian Islamic Women's Organization Conference were shattered. Five people were injured following the explosion.

He said the 26-year-old defendant carried out the bombing after receiving intimidation threats.

"A group of people picked up the defendant in front of the Gambir Railway Station on April 14, and threatened to kill him and his family members if he did not cooperate with them," he said.

The judge said the defendant capitulated to the demands and later asked the six other suspects to join with him to discuss the bombing of the mosque.

"The defendant promised the six suspects some money from the leader of the group if the bombing was successful. The meeting was held on April 15 at the latter's house in Tangerang," he said.

The defendant received orders on April 18 from the group leader to set a date for the bombing, the judge said.

He said the defendant and the six suspects carried out the bombing on April 19.

"The defendant told Rully how to activate the bomb on the mosque's ground floor, while the others made their way to their own positions around the mosque at the time of the explosion," Rasadi said.

The prosecutor said the police Forensic Laboratory concluded that the bomb used in the April bombing had a powerful capacity.

Upon hearing the judge's verdict, the defendant, who was wearing blue pants and a white T-shirt, was quiet. The defendant's lawyer, Hotlan Sitorus, said his client was considering filing an appeal to the Jakarta High Court. (asa)