Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Police said the judges handling the case of Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba`asyir had received short text messages (SMS) containing threats from unidentified persons.

"We will therefore take measures to ensure the security of the judges," Jakarta Metropolitan Police chief Inspector General Sutarman said here on Wednesday.

He said the police would provide security for the judges before they convene to announce their verdict on Ba`asyir who is being tried on the charge of financing terrorist activity.

The police were not as yet able to confirm the truth of the messages but they would remain alert and take anticipatory measures while continuing efforts to trace the sender.

To support the smooth implementation of the court session Sutarman said he had ordered his police command to deploy officers optimally.

The Jakarta Metropolitan Police Command plans to deploy 3,446 personnel including snipers to secure the session, court personnel as well as the defendant.

It has even coordinated with police commands of other regions to blockade Ba`asyir`s supporters crossing regional borders.

The police will also tighten security in the court area by checking visitors.

Abu Bakar Ba`asyir, the chief of the Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid, is facing a ruling on his alleged involvement in terrorism at the South Jakarta District Court on Thursday (June 16).

To prevent any eventuality the court meanwhile has issued special identity cards for journalists covering the event.

The policy has been taken following coordination with the police, court official Sair said here on Wednesday.

He said the court had prepared 200 IDs and newsmen could teka them in exchange for their press cards before the session began.

He said the measure was taken also for selecting journalists with clear identities.

(SYS/H-YH/F001)

Editor: Suryanto
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