Second embassy bombing suspect stands trial
Second embassy bombing suspect stands trial
Agencies, Jakarta
A militant went on trial on Monday accused of transporting and storing explosives used in last year's suicide bombing outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.
Agus Ahmad bin Engkos Kosasih, the second person to appear in court for the bombing that killed 11 people including suicide bomber Heri Golun, was charged under tough antiterror laws.
Chief prosecutor Jaya Sakti said Agus had helped other militants, including Malaysian fugitive bombmaker Dr. Azahari bin Husin, to obtain and transport explosives and other material from his house in Cisuren village in Cianjur regency, West Java, to a safe house in Jakarta in July and August 2004.
"Defendant Agus Ahmad bin Engkos Kosasih helped in delivering the explosives ... for the Sept. 9, 2004 bombing," Sakti told the South Jakarta District Court.
The 30-year-old defendant could face the death penalty if convicted. However, prosecutors have not said what punishment they are seeking.
Agus, who wore a black Muslim cap during the session, has yet to admit or deny the charges.
He is alleged to have knowingly carried the explosives used by fellow militants Iwan Darwaman and Azahari in the attack, which has been blamed on the al-Qaeda-linked Jamaah Islamiyah regional terrorist group.
Sakti said Agus drove Darmawan and Azahari along with boxes and bags containing high-explosive materials from Jakarta to his parents' house in Cianjur.
During the ride, Azahari told Agus that he "knew many of the Bali bombers".
After hearing the story, Agus became "convinced that the materials that were stored inside the car were components to make bombs". Sakti said.
Agus also allowed Darmawan and Azahari to spend two nights at his parents' home, the prosecutor added.
Darmawan is currently in custody awaiting trial while Azahari remains on the run with another Malaysian militant, Noordin Mohammad Top.
The trial was adjourned until next week, when defense lawyers will make their opening remarks.
After Monday's session, Agus' attorney Heri Susanto said the defense team would prepare a plea after studying the charges.
Azahari and Noordin are alleged to have played key roles in the October 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, as well as the attack on the Jakarta Marriott hotel in 2003 in which 12 died. Jamaah Islamiyah is blamed for the embassy blast, the Bali and Marriott strikes and a string of other attacks in the world's largest Muslim-populated country.
Police stepped up their hunt for Noordin and Azahari after the Sept. 9 attack.
More than 20 people have so far been detained in connection with the embassy bombing.
Another militant, Irun Hidayat, was charged last week with planning and motivating people to carry out the embassy attack.