Welcome Guest   |  Login   |   Signup
JG Logo
Sat, May 26, 2012
Archive Search

Embassy Bombing Convict Goes on Trial for 2009 Jakarta Attacks
Heru Andriyanto | March 10, 2010

Share This Page
0
0
0
0
Share with google+ :


Post a comment
Please login to post comment

Comments

Be the first to write your opinion!

A convicted terrorist released from jail for the 2004 attack on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta went on trial on Wednesday for his alleged role in last year’s twin hotel bombings that killed nine people.

Rohmat Puji Prabowo, 34, from Solo, is accused of “involvement in a sinister conspiracy to carry out the acts of terror” related to the July 17, 2009, attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta, according to the prosecution.

Described by prosecutors as a “former” member of Jemaah Islamiyah, Rohmat was released from jail in 2006 after serving time for what was described as a minor role in the embassy car bombing that also killed nine.

Prosecutor Anita Dewayani, reading out the indictment in the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday, alleged the defendant escorted terrorist mastermind Noordin Moh Top and a stash of explosives part of the way from Central Java to Jakarta.

The men allegedly departed in two vans on June 29, stopping over in Cikampek to change cars.

“The group loaded two suitcases containing homemade bombs, two laptop [computer] bags containing explosive devices, two sacks of aluminum powder and an M-16 rifle from one car to another,” the prosecutor said.

Noordin allegedly changed drivers before continuing the trip to Jakarta while Rohmat returned to Central Java.

On Aug. 7, three weeks after the attacks, prosecutors say Rohmat met Noordin again at a house in Solo when the militant chief was hiding from a major manhunt that followed the attacks.

Rohmat allegedly was part of a small group of militants in Central Java who preached jihad, or martyrdom, in their gatherings and when delivering sermons at public prayers.

“The defendant kept close to ustadz Faris, alias Urwah, who in his sermons kept talking about jihad, which should be translated into the attack and the killing of American people,” the prosecutor said.

Rohmat was arrested at a marketplace in Solo on Sept. 16. Police, acting on information provided by Rohmat after his arrest, raided a house near Solo and killed Noordin, who had been the target of a nationwide manhunt since the 2002 Bali bombings.

Prosecutors have charged Rohmat with harboring Noordin and failing to alert authorities about a terrorist plot.

Rohmat is the sixth defendant to be tried in connection with the Jakarta hotel bombings. The same court is hearing the trials of Noordin’s suspected driver, Amir Abdullah, suspected bombing financiers Muhammad Jibriel and Saudi national Al Khelaiw, Aris Susanto and Supono. Another suspect, Putri Munawaroh, is awaiting trial.