Seven Indonesian IS Sympathizers Sentenced to Prison

A Jakarta court Tuesday convicted, fined and sentenced to prison seven Indonesians accused of supporting the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.

The seven defendants received different sentences for charges related to terrorism, but these fell short of jail terms that prosecutors were seeking.

The sentences marked the first Indonesian convictions of suspected local supporters of the Middle Eastern-based group since an IS-claimed terrorist attack in Jakarta killed eight people on Jan. 14, including four of the alleged assailants.

Among the defendants, Tuah Febriwansyah (alias Muhammad Fachry), was sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of Rp 5 million (U.S. $367). The six others were sentenced to between three and four years in prison, following trials that were heavily guarded by police.

Fachry’s sentence was  much lighter than the penalty that the prosectution had sought. The prosecutor wanted the alleged owner of the radical site Al-Mustaqbal.net to be sentenced to eight years in prison and fined of Rp 50 million (U.S. $3,680).

“Thank God, I accept the decision of the judge,” Fachry said.

A panel of judges comprised of Muhammad Arifin, Syahlan and Ahmad Fauzi said their ruling was fair and based on the law.

Fachry was found guilty of joining a Quran study group that pledged allegiance to the IS. The study group was led by Bahrumsyah, an alleged Indonesian IS leader who is believed to be in Syria.

“The judges ruled that Tuah uploaded and distributed IS propaganda from the Internet on the Al-Mustaqbal website,” Chief Justice Syahlan ruled. “People became aware about IS and this brings impacts, whether it makes people afraid or moved to follow IS.”

Lower sentence

Two of the other defendants, Aprimul Hendri (alias Mulbin Arifin), and Koswara (alias Abu Ahmad), were given lighter sentences.

Aprimul was sentenced to three years in prison and fined of Rp 50 million. The prosecutor had sought a five-year term for him.

Koswara was sentenced to four years in prison and also fined Rp 50 million. In his case, the prosecutor had sought six years in prison.

The judges ruled that Aprimul and Koswara were involved in a conspiracy to facilitate the departure of Indonesians to Syria.

“The defendant (Koswara) had received money through the BCA (Bank Central Asia) account and then used it to dispatch people to Syria,” the judges ruled.

Koswara and Aprimul said they would not appeal the verdict.

Bound by UN Charter

The four other defendants, Ahmad Junaedi (alias Abu Salman), Sungkar Ridwan (alias Abu Bilal and Iwan aka Ewok, Abdul Hakim Munabari (alias Abu Imad), and Helmi Muhammad Alamudi, received similar sentences.

Junaidi was sentenced to three years in prison, less than the five-year term sought by the prosecution. Ridwan was sentenced to four years in prison, less than the six years sought by the prosecutors, and Abdul Hakim was sentenced to three years, less than the five sought by the prosecution.

Helmi was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and fined Rp 100 million (U.S. $7,360). The prosecution had wanted five years and the same fine.

All four accepted their sentences.

But their attorney, Asludin Hatjani, challenged the validity of the verdicts for the four defendants.

“Our opinion is that the act actually occurred outside Indonesia, which was in Syria,” said Asludin. “Moreover, one of the defendants, Junaedi was actually deceived when leaving for Syria. He was promised a job as a teacher.”

The judges ignored Asludin’s defense.  They instead cited expert witness Romli Atmasasmita, a criminal law expert from the University of Padjadjaran.

“Although there is no treaty on extradition between Indonesia and Syria, citizens who commit a crime in Syria can still be prosecuted according to Indonesia law,” the judges ruled, relying on the expert’s testimony.

“Both countries adopted the resolution of the United Nations Security Council of Sept. 24, 2014.”

The resolution, among other things, stressed that efforts to counter the IS must be in accordance with the U.N. Charter.