Prosecutors seek 8 years for Ba'asyir

JAKARTA: Prosecutors wrapped up their case against Abu Bakar Ba'asyir on Tuesday, accusing the Muslim cleric of being guilty of terrorist charges through his alleged leadership of an Al- Qaeda-linked group.

Presenting their closing arguments, the prosecution accused Ba'asyir of failing to prevent Jamaah Islamiyah militants under his leadership from carrying out terror attacks, including the 2002 Bali bombings.

Chief prosecutor Salman Maryadi insisted that Ba'asyir as the alleged leader of the group knew of his subordinates' activities, including bomb-making classes at a militant training camp in the southern Philippines.

He recommended that Ba'asyir be sentenced to eight years in prison.

Ba'asyir is on trial for his alleged link to a series of deadly bombings in recent years blamed on Jamaah Islamiyah, including the 2002 Bali nightclub attacks in which 202 people were killed. --AFP