Prosecutors seek 10-year jail term for alleged bomber
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.