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Suspects
deny Batam
rocket plot
Duo accused of planning Marina Bay attack
say Indonesian anti-terror unit made it up
Francis Chan with Singapore as the destination.
Indonesia Bureau Chief Gigih and Hadi, as well as Tarmid-
and Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja zi, Eka Saputra and Trio Syafidro,
Indonesia Correspondent pleaded not guilty when they were
In Jakarta charged in court on Jan 24 in connec-
tion with the terror plot. They were
also charged with harbouring mili-
Two suspects including the lead- tants and funding terror activities.
er of a Batam terrorist cell who The police did not reply to queries
are accused of planning to fire a regarding Gigih and Hadis claims
rocket at Marina Bay have denied about Densus 88 by press time.
having any part in the foiled attack. Thecase drew much attention ow-
The alleged leader, Gigih Rahmat ing to the audacious nature of the al-
Dewa, and his accomplice, Hadi leged plan and how quickly Densus
Gusti Yanda, were back in court as 88 managed to round up the mem-
the trial against them which start- bers of the cell behind it.
ed on Feb 1 resumed yesterday. The progress of the trial, howev-
Speaking to The Straits Times, er, has been slow, noted East Jakar-
Gigih said there was no such plan, ta District Court Judge Tarigan Mu-
while Hadi claimed it was a da Limbong, who was presiding
trumped-up charge. That is a sto- over the sixth hearing of the case.
ry made up by Densus, Hadi said, He took issue with the prosecu-
referring to the Detachment 88 tion, after only two witnesses out
counter-terrorism police unit, of 16 who were scheduled to testify
known as Densus 88. showed up. He also criticised the
The two Indonesians, and three prosecutors for turning up four
other members of the cell, were ar- hours late for the hearing yesterday.
rested in Batam last August in con- Counter-terrorism analyst Adhe
nection with the terror plot target- Bhakti, from the Centre for Radical-
ed at Singapore. ism and Deradicalisation Studies,
Follow-up raids by Densus 88 at said the hearing must be complet-
their homes found weapons such ed six months from the date the
as a bow and arrow and an airsoft case was presented to the court,
gun modified to resemble an which was Jan 24.
AK-47 assault rifle but no rocket. If there is no verdict within that
A sixth member, Leonardus Huta- window of time, the defendants,
julu, was arrested in September. by the law, must be released, he
Among his possessions seized added.
were an airsoft replica of an assault
rifle, two mobile phones, an Indone- tkchan@sph.com.sg
sian passport and a travel itinerary wahyudis@sph.com.sg
The alleged terrorist cell leader, Gigih Rahmat Dewa, conferring with his lawyer
in the East Jakarta courtroom yesterday. ST PHOTO: WAHYUDI SOERIAATMADJA