An Indonesian Abu Tholut is among more than 120 alleged members of "Tanzim Al Qaeda in Aceh" captured or killed since the authorities found their paramilitary training camp in Aceh province early last year.
Judge Musa Arif Aini told the court that the 50-year-old firearms expert helped set up the camp and obtain M-16 assault rifles and other weapons for the group. He said, "It has been proven legally and he is convincingly guilty of committing criminal and terrorist acts."
Tholut, also known as Mustofa, was arrested last December. Police said he went to Afghanistan in the late 1980's before returning to Asia to train with Jemaah Islamiah (JI).
Tholut became one of Indonesia's most-wanted fugitives after Noordin Top and Dulmatin - master bomb makers for JI - were killed in police raids last year. He was convicted for involvement in a 2001 bomb blast at a shopping plaza in central Jakarta that wounded six. He served five years of an eight-year sentence and was released for good behavior. But like so many other convicted extremists in Indonesia, he went back to his terrorist network after his release.