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)