Indonesia Seeks Six Years for Noordin's Father-in-Law

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesian prosecutors Tuesday sought six years in jail for the father-in-law of slain Southeast Asian terror mastermind Noordin Mohammed Top. Baharudin Latif, 55, is accused of sheltering Malaysian-born Top, who led a campaign of terror as the self-proclaimed leader of “Al-Qaeda in the Malay Archipelago” until his death in a police raid a year ago.

Latif was arrested five months after suicide bomb attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta in July last year that killed seven people. The hotel blasts were believed to be Top’s last attacks in a career that allegedly included the 2004 bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta and attacks on tourist spots in Bali in 2005.

“The defendant is guilty of hiding and providing assistance to terror mastermind Noordin Mohammed Top,” prosecutor Firmansyah told the South Jakarta district court.

“They shared a similar concept of jihad (holy war) with the objective to kill infidels (non-Muslims).” Noordin allegedly visited Latif’s house in Cilacap, Central Java, on several occasions and married his daughter, Arina Rahmah, in 2006. The couple had two children. Latif’s son, Ata Sabiq Alim, 24, is standing trial separately on similar charges.

“He acted as Noordin’s guard. He always escorted Noordin during his trips,” prosecutor Nana Mulyana said.

Rahmah was arrested and questioned about her husband’s terrorist activities but she was released without charge after claiming she had no idea he was one of Asia’s most wanted men. Prosecutors said they did not seek the maximum 15 years’ jail term for the two defendants because they had been polite and cooperative in court.