Man gets 15 years in jail over JSX bombing, marijuana

Man gets 15 years in jail over JSX bombing, marijuana

BANDUNG (JP): The Bandung District Court sentenced a defendant
on Monday to 15 years in jail for illegally possessing and
distributing firearms and ammunition, as well as unlawful
possession of marijuana.

According to the panel of judges, the defendant, Dinan
Sabardiman, had been proven guilty as charged of possessing two
rifles and 129 rounds of ammunition, and 426 grams of marijuana.

Presiding judge Hazli Saleh said that the rifles and
ammunition were supposed to have been supplied to the groups who
were believed to have plotted the deadly bombing of the Jakarta
Stock Exchange (JSX), which killed ten people last year.

Prosecutor Hendri had earlier demanded that Dinan be given 20
years for his crimes, detik.com reported.

"The defendant violated Emergency Law No. 12/1951 on the
possession and distribution of firearms. And the fact that he had
marijuana in his possession is a violation of Law No. 5/1997 on
narcotics," judge Hazli ruled.

The court also ordered Dinan to pay a Rp 1 million fine, or
serve an additional three months in jail.

Both the defendant and the prosecution said they would
probably appeal the verdict.

On Sept. 13, 2000, the Jakarta Stock Exchange building on Jl.
Jend. Sudirman was rocked by a powerful blast which killed 10
people and injured dozens.

The explosion took place on the second level of the 34-story
building's underground parking lot. Most of the victims were
drivers and hundreds of cars were damaged by the blast.

Police had earlier linked the blast with the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM), and several people, mostly hailing from Aceh, had
been interrogated for conspiring to cause the blast.

They were all released as neither the police nor the
prosecutors could find any evidence supporting the accusation.

Also on Monday, Dinan's accomplice Rusli M. Yusuf, received a
seven-year sentence for illegal possession of marijuana after a
separate trial before the same court.

Rusli was arrested together with Dinan in possession of the
426 grams of marijuana.

"He was not involved in the possession and distribution of the
rifles and ammunition," judge Hazli, who also presided over
Rusli's trial, said.

Prosecutor Hendri had earlier asked the court to sentence
Rusli to 10 years for the offense.

Rusli also said he would probably appeal. (sur)