Suspects sent to Jakarta for trial to avoid terror in Aceh

Hotli Simanjuntak ,  THE JAKARTA POST ,  BANDA ACEH   |  Fri, 06/26/2009 1:26 PM  |  The Archipelago

Authorities in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam have decided to send 14 "dangerous criminals" to stand trial in Jakarta in a move designed to prevent acts of terror and retaliation against police and prosecutors.

The Aceh Police have already sent nine of the 14 criminals to Jakarta to be prosecuted, while the investigation of the five remaining suspects is still underway.

"We have been forced to carry out such measures to prevent intimidation and intervention from particular parties who want the suspects to be given light sentences," Aceh Police detective chief Sr. Comr. Wahab Saroni told reporters.

He added that the decision to prosecute the alleged criminals in Jakarta was intended to deter crime in Aceh.

"We hope the measure will discourage potential criminals in Aceh from disregarding the law," said Wahab.

According to Wahab, the Aceh Police have identified more than 34 severe cases of crime committed by the 14 suspects around the province over the past three months.

"So far we have identified 34 cases and we are sure that these criminals are guilty," said Wahab.

He added they were involved in serious crimes, such as kidnapping, armed murder and grenade attacks against a particular political party contesting the April legislative elections in Aceh this year.

Wahab said that one of the suspects was involved in abductions in Bireun, Lohkseumawe and Nagan Raya from March to July last year. The armed gang was allegedly led by Abdul Razak.

Police seized six AK-56 and AK-47 firearms, two ammunition magazines, two cell phones, documents, a lucky charm, three shirts and a sum of money in a suitcase.

"They have been transported to Jakarta and will soon be prosecuted in court for committing crimes in Aceh," said Wahab.

Apart from the abductions, the suspects were also allegedly involved in cases of violence during the lead-up to the April 9 legislative elections.

The World Bank's post-conflict monitoring team disclosed in its public report that 16 people were killed, 47 injured and 17 buildings and vehicles were destroyed during the campaign period.

The report also publicized 13 cases of grenade attacks on the offices of a political party, and the murder of four Aceh Party and Aceh Transition Committee members in early February.

In the latest incident, an Aceh Party campaign team member from Jeuram, Nagan Raya regency, was found dead with his throat slit at an oil palm waste facility.

The violent incidents have raised fear among Aceh's population.

Many Acehnese people have suspected the incidents were politically motivated and were aimed at disrupting the elections.

"We have worked very hard to investigate all the cases and we hope the crime rate in Aceh will be reduced to as low as possible," said Wahab.

He added the Aceh Police had confiscated 19 firearms used by the arrested criminals in Aceh from 2008 to 2009.

The weapons were believed to have originated from the Aceh conflict era and had been kept by individuals who intended to use the weapons for future crimes.

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