The panel of judges presiding over the trial yesterday ordered that it must continue, rejecting arguments submitted by Bashir's defence team during the committal stage of proceedings.
Bashir has been charged with seven terrorism offences, the most serious of which carries the death penalty, in relation to setting up and funding a terrorist cell discovered training at a secret camp in the province of Aceh last year.
Bashir, the co-founder of Jemaah Islamiah, the group responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians, does not deny the existence of the camp.
However, he claims it was not a terrorist operation and says those found training in Aceh were only undertaking I'dad, or physical training, as part of their religious obligations as Muslims to make themselves ready to defend Islam.
At least 15 of the 130 witnesses who will be called during the trial, including key supporters of Bashir and some central to the running of the Aceh camp, will now give evidence through a video link after claiming they did not want to appear in court in person because they feared for their safety.
Prosecutors yesterday presented a stack of letters to the judges, including from Abu Tholut, a former JI area commander and the alleged training co-ordinator of the Aceh camp, who requested that he give evidence via video.
Another witness known as Ubaid, who is suspected of being the middle man who delivered the funds raised by Bashir, asked to make his statement to the court by video.
Most of those who will give evidence via video were members of the legal Islamist group Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid, of which Bashir is the amir, or leader, and which he allegedly used as a front to fund the Aceh camp and the new terrorist cell known as al-Qa'ida in Aceh.
The judges ruled in favour of the request, despite objections from one of Bashir's lawyers, Munarman, who claimed the letters were forgeries.
"We suspect these letters have been fabricated so witnesses cannot give their statement freely," he told the court.
Munarman said the witnesses should be present in the court to ensure their testimony was given freely and without pressure.
After a 90-minute adjournment, the judges granted the prosecution request.
Earlier, the judges rejected defence arguments for the case to be thrown out, prompting an angry response from hundreds of Bashir supporters outside the court. They were easily outnumbered by police.
Bashir's lawyers claim the case against the 72-year-old is politically motivated and that evidence has been fabricated by Densus 88, Indonesia's counter-terrorism unit, under pressure from Australia and the US.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...testify-by-video/story-e6frg6so-1226019397399
This may be a long thread as the trial is set for about six months.
Bashir has been charged with seven terrorism offences, the most serious of which carries the death penalty, in relation to setting up and funding a terrorist cell discovered training at a secret camp in the province of Aceh last year.
Bashir, the co-founder of Jemaah Islamiah, the group responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians, does not deny the existence of the camp.
However, he claims it was not a terrorist operation and says those found training in Aceh were only undertaking I'dad, or physical training, as part of their religious obligations as Muslims to make themselves ready to defend Islam.
At least 15 of the 130 witnesses who will be called during the trial, including key supporters of Bashir and some central to the running of the Aceh camp, will now give evidence through a video link after claiming they did not want to appear in court in person because they feared for their safety.
Prosecutors yesterday presented a stack of letters to the judges, including from Abu Tholut, a former JI area commander and the alleged training co-ordinator of the Aceh camp, who requested that he give evidence via video.
Another witness known as Ubaid, who is suspected of being the middle man who delivered the funds raised by Bashir, asked to make his statement to the court by video.
Most of those who will give evidence via video were members of the legal Islamist group Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid, of which Bashir is the amir, or leader, and which he allegedly used as a front to fund the Aceh camp and the new terrorist cell known as al-Qa'ida in Aceh.
The judges ruled in favour of the request, despite objections from one of Bashir's lawyers, Munarman, who claimed the letters were forgeries.
"We suspect these letters have been fabricated so witnesses cannot give their statement freely," he told the court.
Munarman said the witnesses should be present in the court to ensure their testimony was given freely and without pressure.
After a 90-minute adjournment, the judges granted the prosecution request.
Earlier, the judges rejected defence arguments for the case to be thrown out, prompting an angry response from hundreds of Bashir supporters outside the court. They were easily outnumbered by police.
Bashir's lawyers claim the case against the 72-year-old is politically motivated and that evidence has been fabricated by Densus 88, Indonesia's counter-terrorism unit, under pressure from Australia and the US.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...testify-by-video/story-e6frg6so-1226019397399
This may be a long thread as the trial is set for about six months.
