Approximately 500 supporters of convicted terrorist Abu Bakar Baâasyir gathered together to rally in front of the Cilacap District Court, Central Java, on Tuesday, demanding that the court release the 77-year old terrorist leader
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A team of defense lawyers have urged the Cilacap District Court to immediately release convicted terrorist Abu Bakar Ba'asyir from prison.
In an attempt to win an early release from his 15-year sentence, Ba'asyir's defense lawyers have argued that the court made a wrong decision when they sent the 77-year-old terrorist leader to prison without strong evidence of his alleged involvement in the funding of a terrorist training camp in Aceh.
'We want the presiding judges to release Abu Bakar Ba'asyir immediately because of an invalid verdict,' the Muslim Team Lawyer (TPM) head Ahmad Mihdan told the Cilacap District Court during a judicial review hearing on Tuesday.
Mihdan argued that the court had sentenced Ba'asyir based on a series of testimonies made by unfavorable witnesses through teleconference, which was illegal. The spiritual leader of Anshorut Tauhid (JAT) filled for a case review at the South Jakarta District Court on November 17, 2015, following the Supreme Court's decision to reject the 2011 Jakarta High Court decision to reduce Ba'asyir's original sentence from 15 to nine years.
The 15-year sentence was less than the life sentence demanded by prosecutors at the time. Ba'asyir's team of lawyers had requested for the court location to be moved from the South Jakarta District Court to Cilacap due to Ba'asyir's health concerns.
Ba'asyir was convicted as being the mastermind behind a terrorist training camp and was also accused of collecting Rp250 million (US$18,000) in funds for training activities. (dan)
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