Terror suspect goes on trial in Ambon

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 05/29/2007 8:40 AM

M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

The Ambon District Court on Monday began hearing the case of a terror suspect accused of masterminding a series of terrorist acts in Maluku.

The suspect, Sulthon Qolbi, alias Asadullah, alias Arsyad, from Sumenep, East Java, is accused of violating the 2003 law on terrorism as well as the criminal code.

The head of the prosecuting team, Constantyn Renjaan, accused Arsyad of being involved in a number of terrorist acts that led to the loss of lives, such as an armed attack on a passenger boat in the Buru Sea, a grenade attack on a public transportation van in Batumerah Village, a bomb blast at the Mardika market and an attack on a police mobile brigade post in Loki village, Western Seram regency.

""The accused intentionally used violence or threats which caused panic or anxiety among the public and the loss of people's lives, with the intention of sowing discord among religious communities by spreading seeds of hatred that could create a new conflict in Maluku, especially in Ambon city,"" Renjaan said, reading the charges.

The prosecution alleged that on Feb. 7, 2005, at around 4:30 p.m. local time, Arsyad's armed group attacked the KM Lai Lai 7 passenger boat in the Buru Sea. Two passengers were shot and injured.

On March 18, 2005, they said, Arsyad instructed Abdullah Umamity to toss a grenade inside a public transportation van traveling toward a Christian enclave. Arsyad allegedly equipped Umamity with a grenade and a Ruger revolver. Umamity carried out the plan on March 21, 2005. He and an accomplice, Soleh, are currently serving sentences for the attack.

The grenade blast injured six passengers and damaged the van.

Prosecutors said on August 25, 2005, Arsyad assembled a bomb and instructed Bachri and Kasim Wali to place it at the Mardika bus terminal. The bomb prematurely exploded at the Mardika market and injured four residents.

On May 15, 2005, Arsyad's gang allegedly attacked the mobile brigade post in Loki village, claiming the life of a local resident and injuring five brigade members. Authorities said the attack was planned at Arsyad's house on May 9, 2005.

Prosecutors argued Arsyad masterminded the attacks as well as being directly involved in them. He could also face criminal charges for arms possession and concealing weapons, bomb materials and ammunition. He is accused of hiding rifles (one MK-3, three SKS, three Jungle and an M-16), a Ruger revolver, a grenade and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

He is said to have hidden the arms in his room as well as burying some of them around his house in Air Kuning, Batumerah subdistrict in Ambon.

The head of Arsyad's defense team, Made Rahman Marasabessy, said he would boycott the trial if his client, who is now a prisoner of the justice department, continued to be detained at the Maluku Police headquarters.

""Our client has not performed Friday prayers for the past six months. We have never been called to accompany him and have never been provided with his case files. We want our client to be moved to a new detention cell,"" he complained.

He also requested that the panel of judges present all the witnesses who claimed his client was the mastermind behind the terror acts.

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