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Indonesia awaits Abu Bakar Ba'asyir verdict Indonesia awaits Abu Bakar Ba'asyir verdict
(about 2 hours later)
Indonesia is ramping up security in preparation for a verdict in the terrorism trial of radical cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir.Indonesia is ramping up security in preparation for a verdict in the terrorism trial of radical cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir.
Police chief Sutarman said more than 3,000 security personnel would secure the Jakarta court and surrounding area.Police chief Sutarman said more than 3,000 security personnel would secure the Jakarta court and surrounding area.
Ba'asyir, 72, is accused of helping to organise and fund a jihadi training camp in western Aceh province.Ba'asyir, 72, is accused of helping to organise and fund a jihadi training camp in western Aceh province.
He denies involvement with the training camp but has repeatedly defended it as legal under Islam.He denies involvement with the training camp but has repeatedly defended it as legal under Islam.
The cleric has been involved in radical Islamic groups in Indonesia for four decades.The cleric has been involved in radical Islamic groups in Indonesia for four decades.
Over the years, he has been repeatedly arrested, jailed and then released.Over the years, he has been repeatedly arrested, jailed and then released.
Prosecutors have asked for a life sentence for Ba'asyir.Prosecutors have asked for a life sentence for Ba'asyir.
His spokesman, Hasyim Abdullah, said he was read to face "the heaviest punishment".His spokesman, Hasyim Abdullah, said he was read to face "the heaviest punishment".
Supporters of Abu Bakar Ba'asyir have already arrived at the court house in South Jakarta, a few hours before the verdict on the 72-year-old preacher will be read out.
He needs no introduction to Indonesians - he is a familiar face here.
He is believed to be the spiritual influence behind radical Islamic groups in the country.
Mr Ba'asyir has maintained that he is just an Islamic cleric, and is not inciting acts of terror.
Mr Ba'asyir has faced terrorism charges before - in fact, this is the third time he has been on trial for his alleged participation in extremist activities.
Police detained him after the Bali bombings of 2002, but his conviction was overturned after he had served 26 months in jail.
This time prosecutors say Mr Ba'asyir is responsible for helping to raise funds for a jihadi training camp in Aceh, which was discovered last year.
Jakarta is on alert ahead of the verdict. A string of threatening SMS and Twitter messages have been circulating in Jakarta over the last few days. saying that any severe punishment for Mr Ba'asyir will have violent repercussions.
The police aren't taking any chances and have deployed 3,000 officers at the court, as well as stepping up security around police headquarters.
Whatever verdict Mr Bashir gets, they say they want to be prepared.
"He believes the verdict is deliberately designed to stop his dakwah [religious teachings]," said Mr Abdullah."He believes the verdict is deliberately designed to stop his dakwah [religious teachings]," said Mr Abdullah.
He was arrested by anti-terror police last August, months after the Aceh camp was raided by police.He was arrested by anti-terror police last August, months after the Aceh camp was raided by police.
The discovery of the camp has led to the arrests of more than 120 suspected terrorists over several months.The discovery of the camp has led to the arrests of more than 120 suspected terrorists over several months.
Experts believe the Aceh group was planning to form a militia to directly attack government targets and eventually impose an Islamic state.Experts believe the Aceh group was planning to form a militia to directly attack government targets and eventually impose an Islamic state.
Earlier in Ba'asyir's trial, prosecutor Andi Muhammad Taufik told the court that the cleric had helped raise money that would have been used for terrorism.Earlier in Ba'asyir's trial, prosecutor Andi Muhammad Taufik told the court that the cleric had helped raise money that would have been used for terrorism.
Ba'asyir has said the allegations against him were "engineered by America".Ba'asyir has said the allegations against him were "engineered by America".
He was convicted of conspiracy over the 2002 Bali bomb attacks, in which more than 200 people died.He was convicted of conspiracy over the 2002 Bali bomb attacks, in which more than 200 people died.
But he was freed in 2006 after his sentence was cut, and his conviction was eventually quashed on appeal.But he was freed in 2006 after his sentence was cut, and his conviction was eventually quashed on appeal.
Most analysts agree that he has been the spiritual leader of the military jihadi network Jemaah Islamiah for a number of years.Most analysts agree that he has been the spiritual leader of the military jihadi network Jemaah Islamiah for a number of years.
But he was cleared of involvement with the group after a trial in 2003.But he was cleared of involvement with the group after a trial in 2003.