Marriott accomplice sentenced to 10 years
Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The South Jakarta District Court sentenced on Thursday defendant Tohir, alias Masrizal bin Ali Umar, alias Mas'ud, to 10 years in prison for his role in last year's deadly bomb attack on the JW Marriott hotel, South Jakarta.
Reading out the verdict, presiding judge Sri Mulyani said that the defendant had been found guilty as charged of violating Article 1 of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 1/2002, as amended by Law No. 15/2003 on terrorism, for committing "a violent act of terror that caused fear among the public and claimed a substantial number of victims."
The Aug. 5, 2003, suicide bomb attack on the hotel claimed the lives of 11 Indonesians -- mostly taxi drivers -- and one Dutch banker. The blast injured 147 others.
The sentence was the same as that sought by the prosecution.
Judge Mulyani said the defendant was guilty because he provided lodgings and vehicles for the other perpetrators of the attack and helped them prepare the explosive materials for the bomb.
The defendant, she added, also took part in surveying the target before the attack.
The court, however, declared Tohir not guilty of the primary charge of violating Article 6 of the Antiterrorism Law for his direct involvement in the bombing, and Article 14 for involvement in the planning of the attack.
"The defendant did not commit such crimes, as he was only following orders from the group's leader," said Judge Mulyani.
The Marriott bombing was allegedly masterminded by Malaysians Noordin M. Top and Dr. Azahari, both of whom are reportedly members of the Jamaah Islamiyah regional terrorist group. Both are still at large and have managed to elude several arrest attempts.
The police recently detained nine men in Bali, Central Java and East Java for allegedly withholding information on the two's whereabouts.
The court took into consideration that the defendant admitted his crimes and showed remorse during the trial.
Both the defendant and the prosecution said they would consider whether to appeal the ruling within a week, as provided by the court.
Tohir is the 14th suspect in the Marriott case to be sentenced. The others were sentenced to between three and 10 years.
Late last month, the same court sentenced Mohamad Ihsan, alias Jhoni Hendrawan, alias Idris, to 10 years in prison for abetting the bombers.
Another Marriott suspect, Ismail alias Ikhwan, is awaiting a verdict in his trial, in which the prosecution has demanded a 12- year prison term, also for abetting in the attack.