Indonesia's terrorist suspect Abu Bakar Baasyir was sentenced to 15 years of life in prison, lighter than attorney's criminal prosecution of life imprisonment.

Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Baasyir is seen in court in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 16, 2011.Baasyir was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison after a trial, according to report. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)
Judge Herri Swantoro who chaired the trial against Baasyir in the South Jakarta Public Court said that the suspect was proved guilty of committing terrorism.

"It is decided that the suspect is sentenced to 15 years of life in prison," said Swantoro.

However, the judge freed Baasyir from prosecution of committing crime, thus he was liberated from primary prosecution.

Baasyir rejected the verdict, saying that it was against the Islamic law.

"Thus, I will be against the Islamic law if I accept the verdict," said Baasyir, responding to the judge's question whether he agreed to his sentence.

Outside the court, about 760 Baasyir's supporters expressed their disappointment.

"This verdict is against humanity as Ustadz (Cleric) Baasyir did not commit what he was accused of," said Ustadz Achwan, leader of Baasyir's supporters outside the court.

However, he urged Baasyir's followers to stay in order and not to commit "any indiscipline action."

"That action will bring no good for us. Do not be provoked," said Achwan.

He urged the supporters to continue Baasyir's fight to defend Islam.

According to the judge, Baasyir was proved of mobilizing other people to raise fund to be used for terrorism act and military training in the Jalin Jantho mountainous area of Aceh province.

A trial attendant who spoke anonymously said that she had expected Baasyir to get death penalty.

"I want that the judge sentence him with death penalty for the sake of our country's security. We can't live like this, in restlessness anymore," she said.

Baasyir was arrested in West Java province by police anti- terror squad Densus 88 when he planned to return to his residence in Solo city of Central Java province on August 8, 2010.

Sen. Comm. Baharudin Jafar, head of Public Relation Division of Jakarta Regional Police, said that his institution has deployed 2, 686 personnel to secure the trial, consisting of those from the National Police Headquarters, Regional Police of Jakarta, Mobile Brigade and military.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet