Lawyers protest over terror trial

Lawyers protest over terror trial

JAKARTA: Claiming terror suspect Irun Hidayat as their client, the Muslim Defense Team (TPM) has lodged a protest at the South Jakarta District Court for not informing them about his trial. Irun is on trial on charges related to last year's suicide blast outside the Australian Embassy that killed 10 Indonesians.

Court proceedings started on Wednesday, with the defendant being represented by a lawyer appointed by the court.

TPM member Achmad Michdan said on Thursday that he had gone to the court last week to ask about the date of Irun's trial.

Mihdan said he and his colleagues were surprised to find out that Irun's trial started on Wednesday, without him being accompanied by lawyers from the TPM.

"I've brought with me a power of attorney signed by our client on March 10. We have officially been acting for him (Irun) since then," he said.

Prosecutors charged Irun under antiterror laws, which carries a maximum penalty of death. -- Antara