Militant Handed 12-Year Sentence for Attempt on Wiranto's Life

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – An Indonesian court meted out a 12-year prison sentence to a man charged of attempting to kill former Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto. The West Jakarta District Court also handed a jail sentence to his accomplice.

Syahrial Alamsyah alias Abu Rara and his accomplice were charged in court after the two attempted to assassinate Wiranto during the latter’s visit to Pandeglang, Banten Province in October 2019.

“[The West Jakarta District Court] has sentenced defendant Syahrial Alamsyah alias Abu Rara to 12 years in jail, including time served,” said presiding judge Mazrial during the sentencing hearing on Thursday, June 26.

The judge also sentenced his wife and accomplice Fitria Diana as well as co-conspirator Samsudin alias Abu Basilah to nine and five years in jail, respectively.

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The defendants accepted their sentence, which are shorter than the 16 and 12 years advocated by prosecutors.

Syahrial’s defense attorneys maintained that their client is motivated by anti-government sentiment. “My client has not been proven to commit any terrorist offenses".

"However, he is guilty of causing bodily harm by stabbing [Wiranto],” Antara state news agency quoted his lawyer Kamsi as saying.

Syahrial also denied conspiring to kill Wiranto.

KOMPAS.com/ BONFILIO MAHENDRA WAHANAPUTRA LADJAR West Jakarta District Court sentencing hearing for the suspects behind former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wirantos attempted assassination in Pandeglang, Banten Province in (10/10/2020)

Evidence of guilt

But the court disagreed.

"We rule that the defendant is guilty of terrorism together with his wife," said Judge Masrizal. He added that Alamsyah belonged to Jamaah Anshor Daulah [JAD], a local extremist group affiliated to Islamic State [IS].

The IS-linked extremist group is responsible for a number of attacks, including suicide bombings at churches in Surabaya, East Java in 2018 that killed a dozen people. 

The court ruling said Syahrial and Fitria pledged allegiance to late IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. They added that the couple is also radicalized by hard-line propaganda on social media and watching videos of Muslims fighting in Syria.

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