JAKARTA, Indonesia (AhlulBayt News Agency) - In Jakarta, prosecutors have argued for an eight-year jail sentence for a defendant who pledged allegiance to the self declared Islamic State terrorist group and planned to attack foreigners, police and members of the Jewish and Shia communities.
Proceedings in the East Jakarta District Court have provided an insight into the recruitment of ISIS supporters, their bomb-making skills and directions they receive from leaders in Syria.
The court heard how the defendant, 31-year-old Arif Hidayatulloh, cemented his radical views during sermons at mosques in and near the capital Jakarta.
In 2015, at the Al Fatah mosque in Menteng, the affluent suburb where the Australian ambassador lives, he attended twice-weekly, pro-ISIS sermons where the university graduate and car manufacturing employee became interested in jihad and dying as a martyr.
His lawyer Muamar Kadafi, however, argued to the court that the witnesses in the case were weak.
Hidayatulloh is also known as Abu Mus'ab and was arrested on December 23 last year after being pulled over for a traffic offence.
He was later charged with crimes relating to faking a car registration, planning to make a car bomb, assisting Indonesians to travel to Syria and money laundering.
The court heard that along with at least six suspects, he planned to attack foreigners in Indonesia, although locations for the planned attacks were not disclosed.
Other targets included the Governor of Jakarta, who is a Christian, high-ranking police officers and members of the Jewish and Shia communities in Bogor, south of Jakarta.
According to police, the defendant was receiving his orders from Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian ISIS leader in Syria.
They communicated via the mobile phone app, Telegram.
The court heard Naim would send the defendant and other members of his cell instructions on how to make bombs, by using substances like hydrogen peroxide and ball bearings.
In September last year, Hidayatulloh said he received a message from Naim which stated in part, "let's do an attack soon".
The Jakarta bombings, which police originally linked Naim, occurred in January this year.
The prosecutor in the case cannot be named but told the court the evidence against the defendant was clear.
"Through hiding, using or exporting firearms, ammunition or explosives for the purpose of terrorism."
The court also heard money was allegedly transferred from Syria into accounts in Indonesia by Naim.
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source : ABC News
Wednesday
14 September 2016
4:32:47 AM
778928
In Jakarta, prosecutors have argued for an eight-year jail sentence for a defendant who pledged allegiance to the self declared Islamic State terrorist group and planned to attack foreigners, police and members of the Jewish and Shia communities.