Key Indonesian Militant Sentenced

The self-proclaimed military leader of Indonesia’s most notorious Islamic militant group, Jemaah Islamiah (JI), has been jailed for 15 years.

Abu Dujana was convicted of violating anti-terror laws after a lengthy trial in the capital, Jakarta.

He was found guilty of helping terrorists and possessing, storing and moving firearms and ammunition.

JI is accused of carrying out a string of attacks in South East Asia including the 2002 Bali bombings.

Abu Dujana was arrested last June in what was seen as a huge victory for Indonesia’s fight against Islamic militants.

At the time, Indonesian police said he had played a role in almost all bomb attacks in the country.

JI LEADERS Noordin Mohamed Top, bombmaker and head of splinter group, still on the run Alleged leader Zarkasih, in police custody Alleged military leader Abu Dujana, jailed for 15 years Bomb expert Azahari Husin, shot dead by police in 2005 Abu Bakar Ba’ashir, alleged JI spiritual leader released from jail in 2006 Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Ali Ghufron, on death row for 2002 Bali bombings Hambali, alleged JI operations chief, held in Guantanamo Bay

He is thought to have trained in Afghanistan and to have close links to al-Qaeda.

On sentencing Abu Dujana, Judge Wahjono, at the South Jakarta District Court, said he had been “proven legally and convincingly of having engaged in the crime of terrorism”.

The judge also ruled that JI was a terrorist organisation - the first such ruling by an Indonesian court.

The 35-page indictment against Abu Dujana accused him of authorising shipments of explosives to attack Christians in Poso in central Sulawesi, an area fraught by inter-religious tensions.

At the start of the trial, prosecutors told the court that Abu Dujana had sheltered and aided senior militants including Malaysians Noordin Mohamed Top and Azahari Husin.

Azahari was killed in a police raid in 2005 but Noordin is still on the run.

Abu Dujana was not charged with any specific bomb attacks, but the court heard that he had been made head of JI’s military wing in May 2004.

Abu Dujana is accused of aiding other senior militants

Image and Text From : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7358165.stm