Marriott bombing suspect on trial

Marriott bombing suspect on trial

JAKARTA: Defendant Ismail, 23, went on trial at the South Jakarta District Court on charges of helping to plan and carry out the bombing of the JW Marriott Hotel in South Jakarta.

He could face the death penalty if convicted under the law on terrorism.

Prosecutor Laury Saffi said the defendant had been recruited by Muhammad Rais, currently on trial for the bombing, when they met in Malaysia.

Saffi said Ismail transported cash from Malaysia and handed it over to two Malaysians, Azahari and Noordin Mohammad Top, who are still on the run. The two have been named suspects in the Marriott bombing, in which 12 people died, and the Bali bombings on Oct. 12, 2002, which claimed the lives of 202 people, mostly foreigners.

The trial was adjourned until May 13. -- JP