| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Indonesia hotel bombing suspect goes on trial |
| 2010-02-10 |
| A suspected member of late terror leader Noordin Mohammad Top's network appeared in an Indonesian court Wednesday charged over twin suicide attacks on luxury hotels in Jakarta last year. The bombings killed seven people as well as the two suicide bombers and marked the bloody end of a four-year hiatus in attacks attributed to Noordin and Al-Qaeda-linked regional terror network Jemaah Islamiyah. Noordin's alleged driver, Amir Abdillah, could face multiple death sentences if convicted on charges including carrying out an act of terrorism, providing explosive materials and harbouring terrorist suspects. Prosecutors said he was also part of a plot to assassinate Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and had booked a room at the JW Marriott hotel which the hotel bombers used to prepare their attacks. "He assisted in an act of terrorism by way of purposely using violence and stirring an atmosphere of terror and widespread fear," prosecutor Totok Bambang said. Two Islamic extremists with backpacks filled with homemade bombs blew themselves up at the neighbouring JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels in downtown Jakarta on July 17. Abdillah wore the white garb of a devout Muslim, joked with journalists and smiled during the hearing, but was not required to enter a plea. Police have said his arrest shortly after the hotel blasts was crucial to subsequent operations which ultimately led to the killing or capture of Malaysian Islamist Noordin and several of his accomplices. |
| Posted by:tipper |