Prosecutors seek 10-year jail term for alleged bomber

The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi

Prosecutors demanded on Thursday that Imal Hamid, a 35-year-old suspect in two bombings last December that killed three people in the South Sulawesi capital Makassar, be jailed for 10 years.

Prosecutors told the Makassar District Court that the defendant concealed information about the bombings on Dec. 2, 2002.

Imal is the younger brother of Agung Abdul Hamid, the alleged mastermind of the bombings at a McDonald's outlet and a car dealership owned by Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla. Agung is still at large.

The defendant also had been charged with "controlling and storing explosives" at his home, and of being involved in planning and ordering the bombings.

But during the trial on Thursday, prosecutors asked the court to drop these last two charges because of insufficient evidence.

During a raid, police found a package of TNT and other explosives at Imal's home in Garessi village, Tanete Rilau subdistrict, Barru regency, South Sulawesi.

The defendant claimed to know nothing about the explosives, which he said belonged to his elder brother, Agung.

Prosecutors argue that Imal had to have known what was being stored in his house, but failed to report the matter to the police.

Prosecutor Andi Muhammad Taufik said that under Law No. 15/2003 on terrorism, Imal could face a maximum of 15 years in prison if found guilty of all charges.

"We are only demanding that the panel of judges jail the defendant for 10 years for concealing information of a terrorist act," Taufik said during the trial, which was presided over by Sitti Moezenah.

The trial was adjourned until next Thursday, at which time the court will hear from the defense.

Fahruddin Sayuti, one of Imal's lawyers, said prosecutors should have sought a jail term of no more than three years for his client because he was not directly involved in the bombings.

Imal is one of 13 suspects currently on trial in connection with the bombings. He was arrested at his home on Dec. 8, 2003.