Two bombs exploded inside of toilet stalls at the Mall @ Alam Sutera in Tangerang last year, leading some to suspect that the attacks had some connection to terrorism organizations such as ISIS. However it turned out that the bomber, who was caught by anti-terrorism unit Densus 88 soon after the second bombing in October, was a “lone wolf” who was motivated by financial need.
The culprit, 29-year-old Leopard Vishnu Kumala, was recently convicted for his crimes in the Tangerang District Court and has now entered the sentencing phase of his trial. The public prosecutor has asked that Leopard receive 10 years in jail for the two bombings, which wounded one mall employee and caused extensive property damage.
Tangerang District Court Prosecutor Erland Muhammad said that Leopard had bombed the mall as part of a plot to extort money from the management in the form of 100 Bitcoins (a digital cryptocurrency that is essentially untraceable to government institutions) that would have been worth about Rp 320 million.
Although he was not affiliated with any terrorist organization or cause, Erland said it should still be considered a crime against the government that could cause fear amongst the public.
“The act of the accused does not support the government in combating terrorism,” Erland told the judge, as quoted by Tribunnews.
The next session of Leopard’s trial will take place next Monday.
