Terror cleric jailed for four years

An Indonesian court today jailed Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir for four years for involvement in a plot to overthrow the government and violating immigration laws.

“In order that the defendant does not repeat his mistake he must be punished,” said Judge Muhammad Saleh in Jakarta.

“We, the judges, hand down a sentence of four years in prison.”

In a sometime contradictory six hour decision by a five-judge panel, Saleh there was insufficient evidence to support the principal charge that Bashir was head of Jemaah Islamiyah – a Southeast Asian extremist group linked to al-Qaida.

“The defendant had knowledge of an organisation that is trying to topple the government,” Saleh said. “That is why the secondary charge has been proven.”

Bashir, 65, said he would appeal the verdict. “I cannot accept the judgment,” he said.

The verdict was initially greeted by joyous cheers from hundreds of Bashir’s supporters, who had mistakenly believed that their leader had been cleared of all charges.