The defendant on trial for conspiring to assassinate human rights activist Munir Said Thalib, Muchdi Purwopranjono, could face 15 years in prison for his alleged involvement in the murder, the prosecution told the court.

Public prosecutor Cirus Sinaga told the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday the former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) top official was guilty of conspiring with the convicted murderer Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto and providing him with the means to carry out the deed.

"The defendant has been proven legally and convincingly to have committed a criminal act," Cirus Sinaga said, as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the prosecutor summarized the evidence presented during the course of 17 hearings to date, including BIN’s to national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia endorsing Pollycarpus’s eligibility as aviation security.

Another fact presented was the account of witness Budi Santoso, also a BIN officer, who said he overheard Pollycarpus being ordered to kill Munir and saw a cashbook entry indicating BIN paid Rp 10 million (US$800) to Pollycarpus.

The hearing was adjourned until next Thursday when Muchdi will present his defense. (amr)