A South Jakarta District Court jury on Thursday rejected Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba’asyir’s not guilty plea in the face of charges he had financed terrorist activity in Aceh.
"We hereby reject Abu Bakar Ba’asyir’s plea. The judge sees no political measures in the arrest. Therefore this trial will be continued," Chairman of the the judge team, Herry Swantoro, said here on Thursday at the trial.
Earlier, the public prosecutor indicted Baasyir had financially sponsored terrorists training in Aceh. Defending himself towards the accusation, Baasyir said his arrest was politically motivated and injustice.
After the Thursday trial, public prosecutor asked the judge to present key witnesses in the trial through teleconference due to concern about their safety. Baasyir’s lawyer protested the proposal saying that the trial had been escorted by thousands of police and therefore concern about security matter was irrelevant.
In respond to the request from the public prosecutor and protest by Baasyir’s lawyer, the judge decided to suspend the Thursday trial for 1.5 hours to discuss about the matter. Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba`asyir himself was arrested on August 9, 2010 for allegedly knowing, supporting and receiving reports about preparations for terrorist attacks.
Baasyir was detained while he was passing the Banjar police office at the border between West Java and Central Java provinces in his car. Police said Abu Bakar Baasyir was believed to have received reports routinely about terrorist plans for bombing attacks in Indonesia.
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