EIGHT TERRORISTS ON TRIAL IN CENTRAL JAVA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 011889 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/CT, EAP/MTS, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/CC DOJ FOR CTS THORNTON, AAG SWARTZ FBI FOR ETTIU/SSA ROTH NCTC/RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2016 TAGS: PTER PGOV KVPR KJUS KISL ASEC CASC AS ID SUBJECT: EIGHT TERRORISTS ON TRIAL IN CENTRAL JAVA REF: A. JAKARTA 10488 ¶B. JAKARTA 11663 Classified By: Political Officer Adam West for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) Summary ¶1. (C) Eight terrorist suspects with links to Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and terrorist mastermind Noordin Top are currently standing trial in Semarang, Central Java. All eight are being charged under the Anti-Terrorism Law. The central figure of the group, Subur Sugiyarto, recruited and trained several of the other suspects, as well as two suspects recently convicted in Bali for their involvement in the 2005 bombings there. Lead prosecutor for the cases is Muhammad Salim, a veteran prosecutor with significant experience in terrorism cases. Although the indictments rely heavily on the testimony of the accused and the physical evidence is somewhat limited, Salim is leading an aggressive push to win convictions against the eight. End Summary. Top-linked Terrorists On Trial -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The trials of eight terrorist suspects with links to Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and terrorist mastermind Noordin Top have been underway since August in Semarang, Central Java. The eight were arrested in a series of raids by DS/ATA-trained Detachment 88 units in January 2006 as part of the manhunt for the perpetrators of the 2005 Bali bombings. The men are charged with aiding and abetting terrorists (article 13 of the 2002 Anti-terrorism law),which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years, while three face additional charges (article 9) of possession of weapons for use in terrorism, which carry the death penalty. Although none of the eight have been linked directly to specific attacks, all are deemed to have provided assistance to Noordin Top, a prime suspect in several bombings and Indonesia's most wanted fugitive. Prosecutors Pushing Hard Despite Lack of Physical Evidence -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) The lead prosecutor in the case, Central Java Deputy High Prosecutor Muhammad Salim, led the prosecutions against the 2002 Bali bombers and is one of the most experienced terrorist prosecutors in Indonesia. During our visit to his office in Semarang on September 14, Salim stated that prosecutors had received a substantial amount of cooperation from police investigators while preparing the indictments, but added that the indictments in these cases, like those in other recent terrorism trials, were short on physical evidence and relied heavily on statements made by the defendants and other suspects (ref A). In this case Salim and the other prosecutors appear to be making an all-out effort to connect the defendants to the 2005 Bali attacks and thereby obtain stronger convictions. In September, prosecutors flew three defendants recently convicted in Bali (Anif Solchannudin, Mohammad Cholily, and Dwi Widiyarto - ref B) to Semarang to testify against the eight accused. Prosecutors are rarely willing to use scarce funds for this purpose, and this action indicates the importance these eight cases have for Salim. Terrorist Recruiter/Trainer Among the Accused -------------- -- ¶4. (SBU) The central figure in the group is long-time JI member Subur Sugiyarto. The leader of a small JI cell in Semarang, Sugiyarto received combat training in 2001 when he went to Ambon to participate in the sectarian fighting there. In 2004, he and Top formed three teams of recruits to help carry out terrorist attacks. Sugiyarto then took charge of the military and religious training of one of the groups, including training in the use of explosives and firearms. Group members included fellow suspects Ardi Wibowo, Aditya Triyoga, Wawan Supriyatin and Harry Setya Rachmadi (details below). Two other members of the group - Dwi Widiyarto and Anif Solchanudin - were recently convicted under the Anti-Terrorism Law in Bali (ref B). Sugiyarto is also charged with providing Supriyatin with ammunition for use in JAKARTA 00011889 002 OF 003 a robbery which was intended to finance terrorist activities. The indictment contains some details about the structure of JI and the heads of the various Mantiquis. The Suspects -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Subur Sugiyarto alias Abu Mujahid alias Abu Isa alias Marwan Hidayat DOB: 9-April-1973 POB: Semarang Arrested: 24-Jan-2006 Charges: article 15 (participating in terrorist acts), article 13 (aiding and abetting),and article 9 (possession of weapons for use in terrorism) ¶6. (SBU) Aditya Triyoga alias Suryo alias Cahyo bin Erindi Soeskiyono DOB: 28-February-1977 POB: Semarang Arrested: 20-Jan-2006 Charges: article 13 One of Sugiyarto's recruits, Triyoga is accused of aiding and abetting Top (although the indictment does not say they ever actually met) and of aiding and abetting Sugiyarto, whom he assisted with a Jihadist book. Triyoga was part of the group that received military training in August 2005. ¶7. (SBU) Wawan Supriyatin alias Muchlis alias Heri Prasetyo bin Kastolani DOB: 22-Feb-1972 POB: Semarang Arrested: 26-Jan-2006 Charges: article 13 and article 9, also armed robbery Supriyatin was allegedly recruited by Sugiyarto and Top to commit robbery in order to finance Jihad (referred to as "Amaliah Fai"). Sugiyarto provided him with 20 bullets, which he took to Pekalongan where he met with Tom (deceased), Mustaqfirin alias Jek (in custody),and Andi alias Ahmad Zamani (disposition unknown). Using the bullets Sugiyarto gave him and guns supplied by Tom, the group robbed a cellular phone shop in Pekalongan on September 12, 2005. The proceeds of the robbery (15 phones and 100,000 RP i.e. 11 USD) were returned to Sugiyarto, who then passed them to Top. ¶8. (SBU) Joko Suroso alias Pak Man bin Danu Kusno DOB: 14-Feb-1973 POB: Madiun Arrested: 20-Jan-2006 Charges: article 13 Suroso is the owner of a restaurant in Semarang where Top reportedly spent several nights and ate meals. ¶9. (SBU) Ardi Wibowo alias Yudi alias Dedi bin Ahmat Sujak DOB: 9-May-1974 POB: Semarang Arrested: 20-Jan-2006 Charges: article 13 Wibowo is said to have accompanied Top on several trips around Semarang in the summer of 2005. He also gave RP 500,000 (about 55 USD) to Supriyatin to finance his robbery. ¶10. (SBU) Harry Setya Rachmadi alias Hari alias Adi bin Rushariyadi DOB: 20-Mar-1977 POB: Semarang Arrested: 28-Jan-2006 Charges: article 13 Rachmadi allegedly provided housing and other assistance to Top in summer 2005. ¶11. (SBU) Sri Puji Mulyo Siswanto DOB: 24-Apr-1973 POB: Semarang Arrested: 19-Jan-2006 Charges: article 13 JAKARTA 00011889 003 OF 003 Siswanto, a JI member since 1993, reportedly traveled to Ambon in 2001 with Kompak to engage in the fighting there. In January 2005, according to prosecutors, he provided housing to Top and Azahari after being contacted by Ahmad Rafiq Ridho (in custody). ¶12. (SBU) Joko Wibowo alias Abu Sayyaf bin Parman DOB: 8-Jan-1981 POB: Karang Anyar Arrested: 26-Jan-2006 Charges: article 9 Wibowo is said to be a veteran of the Ambon fighting and an associate of Sugiyarto. When he was arrested in January, police found a 38-caliber revolver and 29 bullets in his possession, as well as four 5.6mm bullets. The ammunition passed from Sugiyarto to Suprihatin in spring 2005 is thought to have come from Wibowo as well. HEFFERN