Laskar Jihad members face trials

Laskar Jihad members face trials

SURABAYA: Surabaya police have completed investigations into 45
extremist Muslim activists charged with launching violent raids
on gambling dens in the East Java town of Ngawi.

Under tight police escort, the suspects from the militant
Laskar Jihad group were sent back to Ngawi by bus on Wednesday to
face trials there.

At the same time, the police also handed over its completed
investigation dossiers to the Ngawi attorney's office.

"The 45 people will be detained at the Ngawi attorney's office
until after the court proceedings," East Java police spokesman
Adj. Sr. Comr. Said Harunantyo said in Surabaya.

The suspects were among 102 Laskar Jihad members arrested in
November for allegedly taking the law into their own hands when
illegally raiding gambling dens in the town.

The dossiers of another four suspects have already been handed
to Ngawi prosecutors, while the remaining 53 militants have been
released. --JP